Bus boarding / transport operation Foreign nationals prepare to board one of several buses that arrived at the Shallcross Sports Grounds during the coordinated operation. Community leaders say the swift response by multiple stakeholders helped prevent the situation from escalating into a humanitarian crisis.
What began as a small gathering of displaced foreign nationals at the Shallcross Sports Grounds last week quickly evolved into a major humanitarian operation, with community leaders, volunteers, security partners, and local organizations working together to manage the situation on the ground.
Between Monday and Thursday last week, hundreds of foreign nationals—many of them women and young children—arrived at the premises seeking refuge after reportedly fleeing threats of violence linked to national anti-illegal immigration protests. As their numbers grew, a coordinated response involving the ward councillor, the Shallcross Community Policing Forum (CPF), community organizations, and volunteers helped maintain calm while humanitarian assistance was systematically provided.
According to Ziyaad Ally Khan, Secretary of 100 Strong, the number of people gathering at the grounds fluctuated daily, with an estimated 1,200 to 1,500 individuals passing through the site over four days. At its busiest, he estimated that between 400 and 500 people were at the grounds simultaneously.
