By Moses Michael-Phiri
BLANTYRE, Malawi
At least 390 Malawians who survived xenophobic attacks in South Africa were welcomed with tears when they arrived in Blantyre on Monday night.
"We are happy they are safe; more returnees will arrive on Tuesday," Information Minister Kondwani Nankhumwa told The Anadolu Agency.
So far, six buses have arrived in Blantyre with 390 people on board.
Braving the rain and chilly weather, Nankhumwa, Internal Security Minister Atupele Muluzi and a handful of relatives received the first group of returnees at the national stadium in Blantyre.
One by one, they trooped out of the six South African-registered buses under darkness and rain.
Amid mixed feelings of joy and sorrow, they walked in a somber procession, while the injured were taken to Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH).
Their arrival ended days of distress and anxiety for their relatives and Malawians in general.
Most returnees are men and women aged between 18 and 30.
Others with babies as young as two months old could be seen wiping away tears of both joy and sorrow.
Yusuf Amidu, who spoke on behalf of the returnees, thanked President Peter Mutharika for rescuing them.
"We appeal that you also rescue thousands of Malawians still trapped in South Africa," he told the gathering.
"Our brothers and sisters are being cruelly beaten and injured. Others have been killed; we do not even know where their corpses are," Amidu said.
But Minister Nankhumwa said only two Malawians had been confirmed killed in the xenophobic violence.
"Two Malawians have been killed in the attacks," Nankhumwa told AA.
"The number of those affected and in temporary camps is indeed high," he added. "About 3,200 Malawians will need to be evacuated."
Returnees are currently being examined and screened by social welfare, police and immigration officials before being released to their loved ones.
The first group of affected Malawians to be repatriated failed to arrive on Sunday due to logistical challenges.
Angry relatives have been camped out at Social Welfare offices at Kwacha in Blantyre, where for the past 36 hours they have waited to welcome their loved ones.
"I will not leave this place until a bus carrying my brother has arrived," a relative of one of the victims told AA Monday afternoon. "I want to see him. It is a miracle he is alive."
So when news spread at 8pm local time that the six buses were about to reach Blantyre, relatives rushed to welfare offices to welcome them.
But not all the victims were aboard the arriving buses.
Minister Nankhumwa said five more buses were expected on Tuesday.
He said Malawi was hiring each bus at 100,000 South African rand, adding that, due to a surge in the number of victims, another 50 buses were needed to bring home all the victims.
"The minister of internal security will also be travelling to South Africa to meet his counterpart in hopes of finding a solution to the crisis," said Nankhumwa.
Thousands of migrants have reportedly fled their homes in South Africa since a spate of xenophobic attacks and looting erupted two weeks ago.
At least seven people have been killed since the beginning of April.
Hundreds of Malawians travel to South Africa each year in search of employment.
