Shops set ablaze, looted as xenophobic attacks spread in South Africa

South African police fired rubber bullets Friday to disperse crowds setting immigrant businesses ablaze as attacks against foreigners spread to Johannesburg.

南非警方周五发射橡胶子弹驱散向移民商店纵火的群众，排外暴力事件已蔓延到约翰内斯堡。

Chanting and singing, machete-armed residents burned down shops owned by foreigners, including a Nigerian dealership in the nation’s largest city. Immigrants carrying bricks accused police of not doing enough to protect them as businesses smoldered.

在南非最大的城市，当地民众唱着歌配着大砍刀向外国人经营的商店放火，其中包括一家尼日利亚经销商。移民们带着砖块，控诉警方没有采取足够促使保护他们，致使许多商店被烧。

Violence targeting immigrant shops started recently in the port city of Durban, where two foreigners and three South Africans were killed. Residents have accused African immigrants of taking their jobs and committing crimes. The unemployment rate in South Africa is 25%, according to government figures.

这场以外国商店为目标暴力事件近期始发于南非港口城市德班，两名外国人和三名南非人遇害。民众控诉非洲移民抢了自己工作且犯罪。据政府公布数据，南非失业率为25%。

A sixth death occurred Wednesday. The body of a 58-year-old foreign national was found in Verulam town, where a mob attacked the man at his home. He fled and died of his injuries near his home, South African police said. At least 112 people have been arrested throughout KwaZulu-Natal Province for various offenses related to the violence, police said.

周三，第六个人遇难。据警方报道，死者58岁，外籍人员，尸体发现于韦鲁勒姆镇，在家里，一名暴徒袭击了他，随后，他逃离现场却因伤势过重，死于家旁。警方称，整个夸祖鲁-纳塔尔省至少112人因涉嫌暴力事件被捕。

President Jacob Zuma said his government is addressing social and economic issues brought up by citizens. He said immigrants contribute to the nation’s economy while others bring scarce skills. "While some foreign nationals have been arrested for various crimes, it is misleading and wrong to label or regard all foreign nationals as being involved in crime in the country," Zuma said.

总统雅各布·祖玛表示，南非政府正在解决这场民众引起的社会经济事件，移民促进了将南非经济的发展，有些移民还将稀有的技术带到南非。“尽管有些外籍人员因各种原因被捕，但认为所有的外籍人员在南非犯罪，这是不对的。”祖玛说道。

As the violence spread to other cities, terrified immigrants sought a resolution. Others fled, taking refuge at police stations in major cities.

暴力事件蔓延至其他城市，受到惊吓的移民寻求解决方法，一些人逃了，在大城市的警察局避难。

"They are using this as scapegoats," said Jean-Pierre Lukamba, an immigrant from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. "Every day, migrants are living in this fire. It’s not just attacks. It’s institutionalized xenophobia. The government must do something. Those people aren’t just mad for no reason. They want electricity, they want jobs, they want water." Lukamba said he’s part of an organization trying to negotiate between the two sides. "They don’t understand the history of Africa; if they do, they would know each of us, we are one," he said.

“他们将此当作替罪羊。” 来自刚果共和国的移民让·皮埃尔·卢卡姆巴这样说道。 “每天，移民们都生活在水深火热中，不只是袭击，这是一种惯有的排外情绪。政府必须要采取措施了，那些人这样疯狂不是没有原因的，他们要电，工作，水。”卢卡姆巴称自己是一个组织的一员，这个组织正在和双方沟通交谈。“他们不了解非洲的历史，如果他们了解，他们将明白我们是一个整体。”他这样说。

Thousands fled to temporary shelters, with aid group Gift of the Givers saying about 8,500 people are hiding in refugee centers or police stations this week because of the violence. The number did not include those who have moved in with friends or relatives. The aid group said it has a facility in Johannesburg to help those who might need shelter. "We are preparing aid packages for those who may journey onwards to their home countries," it said.

成百上千的人逃到临时避难营，援助组织Gift of the Givers称，由于此次暴力事件，本周约8500人躲在避难中心或警察局，这不包括搬到朋友或亲戚家的人。这一援助组织表示，在约翰内斯堡他们有一些设备可以帮助这些需要避难的人们。 “我们正在为那些可能回国的人们准备援助项目。”

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来源:CNN英语爱语吧作者:Lucia