Recent violence against South African migrants has claimed the lives of more than 60 people and caused more than tens of thousands to flee their homes - the majority of them sheltering in make shifts camps or outdoors, totally unprotected. The international Red Cross says it is vital the migrants leave these temporary shelters.

Nde Ndifonka is a spokesman for the International Organization for Migration. He told VOA’s Akwei Thompson the United Nations is assisting the South African government in planning relief efforts for the migrants.

“Basically, I don’t think there’s a limit to the kind of assistance that, you know, we want to give.”

He said the effort that is ongoing now “will change as situation demands, and we get different assessments.”

Ndifonka said the important thing to do is give humanitarian assistance to those who have been affected and displaced by the violence.

“The government has set up focal points and joined organizing committees led by the National Disaster Management Crisis and we basically are supporting them in terms of making assessments and finding out what are the needs of th people and making sure that we mobilize resources to provide those immediate needs.”