Western nations are turning their backs on refugees fleeing war and there are alarming signals that Kenya and South Africa may adopt this stance.

The situation for refugees in the Bekaa Valley is desperate.

A lack of health service delivery to foreigners, which almost amounts to human rights abuses, costs South Africans far more than they realise.

Proposed amendments to asylum application processes are unworkable — unfair to refugees and over-burdened reception centres alike, activists argue.

The National Council of Provinces on Tuesday endorsed the Refugees Amendment Bill, which was passed in the National Assembly on March 15.