BRAZIL | COVID-19 RESPONSE BRAZIL OPERATION COVID-19 RESPONSE MARCH 2021 Distribution of agricultural tools to Indigenous communities in Pacaraima OPERATIONAL CONTEXT As of 31 March, Brazil reached a total of 12,748,747 confirmed cases and 321,515 deaths from COVID-19, closing out the deadliest month yet since the pandemic started with more than 60,000 people dying of COVID-19 in March. On 16 March, the health research institute Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) released an extraordinary edition of the COVID-19 Observatory Bulletin, drawing attention to indicators that pointed to an extremely critical situation across the country: out of the 27 federative units, 24 states and the Federal District had occupancy rates for ICU beds for adults in the Brazilian Public Health System equal to or greater than 80%, 15 of which with rates equal to or greater than 90%. Researchers defined it as the biggest health system collapse in the history of Brazil. Moreover, hundreds of Brazilian economists, including former finance ministers and central bank presidents, urged the Brazilian government in an open letter published on 21 March to speed up vaccination efforts and adopt tougher restrictions to slow the rampant spread of COVID-19. On the same day, Brazil received 1,022,400 doses of COVID-19 vaccine through the COVAX Mechanism, being the delivery part of a first phase of distribution to Brazil. Approximately the 6% of the country’s total population has so far received at least one dose of vaccine. Against this backdrop, in March almost all federal states maintained restrictive measures, including nightly curfews and nonessential business closures. Accordingly, UNHCR had to reintroduce teleworking arrangements for staff operating in Brasilia, São Paulo and Belém, while essential activities continued to be performed with reduced staff capacity in Manaus, Boa Vista and Pacaraima. On 29 March, President Jair Bolsonaro replaced six ministers, including the ministers of Defense, Justice and Foreign Affairs. Earlier in the month, the President swore in Marcelo Queiroga as Minister of Health, replacing Eduardo Pazuello and being Queiroga the fourth person to hold this office since the pandemic began. This cabinet reshuffle was also followed by the appointment of new commanders of the Brazilian army, navy, and air force. The Ministry of Justice and Public Security issued the Ordinance nº 21 DIREX/PF, determining that the protocols related to migratory regularization issued by the Federal Police and expired as of 16 March 2020, are valid and will be accepted until 16 September 2021. In addition, the Ministry of UNHCR Brazil / March 2021 1 BRAZIL | COVID-19 RESPONSE Justice and Public Security and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued Ordinance 19/2021 further easing documentary requirements for Venezuelan nationals. Individuals will now be able to request a temporary residence permit using expired identity documents from their country of origin and prove family links through a self-declaration if they lack a birth or marriage certificate. The latter ordinance replaces Ordinance 9/2018 and does not affect the validity and effectiveness of Ordinance 652/2021 that established temporary entry restrictions by land and sea in Brazil for foreigners of all nationalities. In Roraima, the State Governor requested to intensify border control activities to prevent irregular entries perceived as a threat to public health security. Operação Hórus – launched to contain cross-border crime and trafficking activities and coordinated by the Public Security Secretariat through the military and civil police – reportedly resulted in the deportation of at least 62 Venezuelans since its beginning in February. On 30 March, the Regional Federal Court of the 1st Region (TRF-1) overturned on appeal a ruling of 21 March that had previously instructed authorities to refrain from enforcing any deportation measure against refugees and migrants in a particularly vulnerable situation in Roraima and Amazonas, while also requesting them to ensure individuals have access to a legal status under the migration or refugee protection laws. In the timeframe between the two decisions, UNHCR contributed to expedite the documentation process for 1,402 people of concern, including 748 asylum-seekers, sheltered by Operation Welcome in Boa Vista and Pacaraima. On 4 March, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted a virtual event to launch the Brazilian chapter of the Refugee and Migrants Response Plan (RMRP) for 2021, a USD 98 million appeal submitted by 34 partner organizations to target 260,000 Venezuelans living in the country with interventions in Shelter, Food Security, Education, WASH, Health, Nutrition, Protection and Integration. With remarks from the Logistic Humanitarian Task Force of the army, the Office of the Chief of Staff, the UN Resident Coordinator, Civil Society, US and EU Embassies, as well as R4V representatives, the event was also an opportunity to inform the 196 participants about Operation Welcome’s achievements to date and on-going efforts to provide assistance, protection, and integration for Venezuelans in Brazil. KEY RISKS AND GAPS Collapse in health systems: Local health systems in most Brazilian States are on the verge of collapse and their COVID-19 response and capacity is profoundly impacted by the surge in cases. Socio-economic impact: High unemployment exacerbated by the coronavirus, cuts and reductions to social programmes and sharp price increases on basic food staples combine to make many Venezuelan refugees and migrants unable to sustain their livelihoods. Access to territory and asylum: Entry restrictions result in increasing numbers of Venezuelans crossing irregularly the border into Brazil in extreme vulnerable situations, exposed to human trafficking, exploitation and abuse. Moreover, with no clear path to regularization and documentation, refugees and migrants are facing additional challenges to exercise their rights. Increasing number of Venezuelans with expired documentation: Despite efforts by the Federal Police to extend the validity of expired documents until September 2021, employers and service providers are generally not aware of this measure and do not easily accept expired documents, adversely impacting on refugees and migrants’ access to services or job opportunities. UNHCR RESPONSE Strengthening and adapting shelter support and reinforcing local health responses Access to Health: As a result of the coordination between the Logistic Humanitarian Task Force of the army and the local municipality, the Pacaraima Secretariat of Health stepped up efforts to UNHCR Brazil / March 2021 2 BRAZIL | COVID-19 RESPONSE complete the national regular vaccination plan for refugees and migrants living in Operation Welcome shelters. A preliminary step for this action to be carried out is the issuance of the CPF (the individual taxpayer registration number) for PoCs using their country of origin documentation, which would make refugees and migrants also eligible to access other health services, including vaccination against COVID-19 during the following phases of the campaign. The Municipal Health Secretariat in Boa Vista also progressed with the second and third phase of the COVID-19 vaccination plan inside Operation Welcome shelters: in March, 31 refugees and migrants received their first dose of the vaccine, while other 10 people of concern completed their immunization with the second dose. On 30 and 31 March, 57 Indigenous Warao living in Ananindeua and Marabá, in the State of Pará, received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine by the Municipal Health Secretariats that have included Indigenous Warao within the priority groups of the vaccination plan due to their epidemiological, social and nutritional specificities. In Manaus, UNHCR, together with IOM, UNICEF and ADRA, also supported 7 elderly Indigenous with transportation to reach the local health facility and get vaccinated. Shelter: In March, 1,340 refugees and migrants were allocated to different shelters in Boa Vista. In Pacaraima, the Operation Welcome Task Force started working on the expansion of the BV8 Transit Centre to increase its capacity to accommodate a total of 2,000 refugees and migrants and provide them with better reception and WASH conditions. In March, UNHCR launched a renewed version of the Shelter dashboard displaying up-to-date information on the population figures and profiles sheltered by Operation Welcome in Roraima. Ensuring protection and supporting integration processes Integration: During the month of March, a total of 1,417 refugees and migrants were voluntarily relocated from Amazonas and Roraima states to other parts of Brazil by bus or flight. UNHCR supported the Fitness For Travel (FFT) process for all these individuals and oversaw the institutional modality relocation of 180 individuals. On 19 March, the microcredit project “Creditodos” was launched in Boa Vista through a virtual meeting with 28 Venezuelan entrepreneurs. The initiative, initially piloted in Brasilia and Manaus, is developed in the framework of the partnership between UNHCR and Banco Pérola to support financial inclusion for refugees and migrants. A training session was also conducted for 25 women, to strengthen their entrepreneurial knowledge and skills in financial planning and market adaptation strategies in the current economic scenario. During the first three months of 2021, UNHCR provided cash grants to 97 families (226 people) participating in the internal voluntary relocation strategy