REGIONAL SUMMARIES | SOUTHERN AFRICA REGIONAL SUMMARIES | SOUTHERN AFRICA

“We are never as effective as when the “whole-of-society” is working together to bring compassion, resources and expertise in response to humanitarian situations. In the spirit of the Global Compact on and UNHCR’s IDP Policy, governments, NGOs, civil society, private sector and people of concern are UNHCR’s most important partners in responding to the displacement of more than 6.2 million people of concern in the Southern Africa region.”

Valentin Tapsoba Director, Regional Bureau for Southern Africa

KEY STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES

Ensuring a favourable protection and UNHCR agreed on standard operating environment procedures to prevent refoulement, facilitate status determination The 16 countries in the Southern Africa and solutions identification. UNHCR will region host more than 1 million refugees also support ratification of the Kampala and asylum-seekers, mainly from , Convention by States and its incorporation the Democratic into national laws and policies. (DRC), and . There were in addition some 5 million IDPs and There will be a strong focus on prevention IDP returnees, nearly all of whom were in of statelessness in the region in 2020. the DRC. In 2019, there was a more than UNHCR will support and the 8% increase in the population of concern Kingdom of in developing to UNHCR compared to the previous year, national action plans on the eradication with mixed migratory flows also placing Southern of statelessness and assist the Kingdom a strain on national asylum systems, of Eswatini and in undertaking triggering restrictive migration and refugee comprehensive studies on statelessness. policies in the region. Africa The Republic of Congo and the Against this backdrop, UNHCR will have pledged to accede to both continue advocating accession to, statelessness conventions. and ratification of, international and regional instruments on refugees, IDPs At a regional level, UNHCR will also seek and stateless persons. In the Republic to focus its efforts in operationalizing the Internally displaced people at a site in Bule, Ituri Province, in the of Congo, UNHCR will advocate the Global Compact on Refugees through Democratic Republic of the Congo, where two men and four children were killed in an attack. adoption of a national asylum law while partnerships with relevant regional © UNHCR/John Wessels the has requested technical economic communities such as the support in drafting a national legal asylum Southern African Development Community framework that could prove a model for (SADC), with which a Memorandum of other Indian Ocean Island States. Understanding was signed in 2019.

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Providing community-based Pursuing durable solutions for of residence permits for 10,000 former Enhancing emergency preparedness protection and multi-sectoral people of concern Angolan refugees and 4,000 former and response capacity assistance Rwandan refugees as part of the legal In eastern DRC, armed conflict and As the region is highly exposed to the effects integration process. is also in the UNHCR will provide multi-sectoral inter-communal violence fuel displacement of climate change, and to natural disasters, process of formalizing the residency and protection and emergency assistance and slow return. Despite the trend towards UNHCR will enhance its preparedness and inclusion of former Angolan refugees. The to populations of concern and host voluntary returns in the Kasai provinces, response capacity to be quicker and more DRC Government is considering offering communities, anchoring the response in peacebuilding continues to be fragile effective in emergencies, including natural long-stay visas to up to 80,000 Rwandans national services and government systems, because of intercommunity tension, and disasters. Following the devastation caused who have indicated their wish to remain. development plans, multi-year strategies weak local governance and security. by Tropical Cyclone Idai in , and regional protection frameworks and UNHCR will also contribute to resilience Promoting social cohesion and and Zimbabwe, UNHCR, through policies. Particular attention will be paid and solutions in its IDP response by peaceful co-existence its partnership with SADC, will assist to the needs of children and women. In the coordinating with humanitarian, development Member States in enhancing their DRC, UNHCR will provide multi-purpose and peacebuilding partners, while supporting receives a high number emergency preparedness and response cash grants to 17,500 IDP and host the inclusive application of national and of asylum applications, has a large capacities to better manage such situations community households as well as provincial development plans. asylum appeal backlog and complex in the future. In Mozambique, as part of 26,500 shelters. In addition, support to protection problems faced by people responsible disengagement from its role in In line with the Global Compact, whenever primary education will be provided for of concern. Thus, social cohesion between the inter-agency response to Idai, UNHCR possible, UNHCR is working with 68,000 refugee students from Burundi, refugees and host communities can be a will have a limited operational presence in governments to support voluntary returns to the and challenge. In South Africa, in line with the Beira, Sofala Province, until 30 June 2020 various parts of the DRC, so such returns South , while 6,000 refugee “whole-of-society” approach, UNHCR will focusing on Protection Cluster coordination, can take place when populations are ready. households will receive shelter support. establish new partnerships and further protection monitoring and community-based The new Policy Voluntary returns of refugees from the DRC on “UNHCR’s In Malawi, the congestion of Dzaleka refugee strengthen existing relationships with protection. In eastern DRC, UNHCR will are ongoing from Angola, and planning is Engagement camp poses a significant risk to the relevant stakeholders to enhance the continue building a flexible-response capacity in Situations underway for returns from the Republic of of Internal well-being of the 42,000 refugees there. protection of refugees and asylum-seekers, and working with local authorities and Congo and . Voluntary Displacement” Due to Malawi’s encampment policy, including government, civil society, organisations to reinforce their emergency tripartite agreements will be important most are unable to provide basic needs faith-based organizations, private sector preparedness. It will also contribute to avenues to raise refugee concerns related for their families and depend largely on and host communities. UNHCR will stronger inter-agency contingency planning to creating conducive conditions in return aid provided by UNHCR and partners. promote social cohesion and peaceful through the Protection, Shelter and CCCM areas, and to highlight any barriers to co-existence in refugee-hosting Clusters that it leads or co-leads. POLICY ON UNHCR’S Given the scale and magnitude of internal sustainable return and reintegration, such ENGAGEMENT IN SITUATIONS

OF INTERNAL DISPLACEMENT Hellge UNHCR/Anna UNHCR/HCP/2019/1 © communities through a community-based displacement in the DRC, particularly as security, governance, social cohesion In line with the new IDP Policy, in the DRC, approach, protection monitoring as well eastern DRC, UNHCR is significantly and services. UNHCR will contribute to a predictable as social and legal assistance. stepping up its support to IDPs in line emergency response while working closely In most countries in the region, as with UNHCR’s new IDP Policy. More than 95% of IDPs in the DRC live in with local leaders on their preparedness for prospects for voluntary repatriation remain host communities and 62% are children. cyclic violence and displacement. UNHCR This means ensuring its rapid response limited, UNHCR is focusing on advancing Community-based protection programmes will also support local authorities and is relevant to the context; expanding local integration through advocating for will seek to involve displaced populations communities to respond to the needs of its protection interventions, including socioeconomic and legal inclusion, as well and their hosts in resolving low-level affected populations through national and community-based approaches and as enhancing education, self-reliance and disputes and identifying significant threats local institutions. social cohesion activities; advocating livelihood programmes in cooperation to raise with authorities. Such programmes better protection for people of concern; with host governments and other relevant support more inclusive responses while and carrying out emergency shelter stakeholders. Many countries of asylum promoting social cohesion and peaceful and camp coordination and camp are also working towards integrating co-existence. management, inter-agency coordination former refugees who wish to remain. In and operational delivery. Zambia, UNHCR is advocating the issuance

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MAJOR SITUATION IN SOUTHERN AFRICA IN 2020 The Southern Africa region hosts some 6.2 million people of concern in 16 countries. Although several countries in the region are experiencing economic growth, many are still struggling with inequality, poverty, natural disasters, drought, food shortages, poor social protection, xenophobia, and a high prevalence of HIV/AIDS. Mixed migratory flows are straining national asylum systems and triggering restrictive migration and refugee policies in the region. Massive internal displacement in eastern DRC has generated overwhelming humanitarian needs. THE EOCRATIC REUIC OF THE CONO

The DRC is the region’s worst-a ected country, and with some of the highest levels of displacement in the world. Following elections in December 2018, the political climate improved, with a peaceful transition of power. Unfortunately, the escalation of military operations against armed groups on the one hand, and the rise of conflicts between communities on the other, has resulted in further . Instead of decreasing, displacement is most likely to remain the same in 2020 and 2021. 887,000 There are more than 4 million IDPs and 1 million IDP returnees—some 10% of the world’s internally REFUGEES & ASYLUM-SEEKERS displaced. Fighting, regional tensions, and exploitative resource extraction are among the triggers million for this massive internal displacement, worsened by the Ebola outbreak in the North Kivu and INTERNALLY DISPLACED Ituri Provinces. Congolese refugees are the largest single refugee population in the region. There are nearly  million 887,000 Congolese refugees and asylum-seekers hosted across 20 African countries in both IDP RETURNEES emergency and protracted situations, and for whom the 2020-2021 Regional Refugee Response Plan for the DRC situation is designed. 55% CHILDREN UNHCR’s response strategy will provide protection and assistance to the most vulnerable refugees, support livelihood opportunities and a resilience-based approach. Given host communities’ limited capacity to support the impact of massive refugee numbers, the strategy will also address the needs of local populations, strengthening peaceful co-existence and building social cohesion. E ective inter-agency cooperation and coordination will be key to provide strong leverage for appropriate solutions, the delivery of protection, humanitarian assistance, and support to sustainable development. DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO THE CONGO

L2 6.2 million 2020 PLANNING FIGURES FOR PEOPLE OF AGE AND GENDER BREAKDOWN CONCERN IN SOUTHERN AFRICA REFUGEES AND ASYLUM-SEEKERS | January 2019 MALAWI ANGOLA REFUGEES  , L3 ASYLUM-SEEKERS , ZAMBIA L1 RETURNEES (REFUGEES AND IDPs)  million L3 20% IDPs million L3 MOZAMBIQUE OTHERS OF CONCERN , ZIMBABWE

40% NAMIBIA

12% ESWATINI 60+ 18-59 LESOTHO 12-17 UNDER 18 SOUTH 5-11 AFRICA 4% 0-4

Situation

CRRF country

IDP initiative

L 1/2/3 Level of emergency

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Strengthening coordination mechanisms some areas conducive to settlement and sustainable BUDGETS FOR SOUTHERN AFRICA | USD voluntary return. In Zimbabwe, the partnership and partnerships PILLAR 1 PILLAR 2 PILLAR 3 PILLAR 4 launched with the African Development Bank in the Taking advantage of the newly-established Regional 2019 2020 2021 livelihood and energy sectors for refugees and host OPERATION Current budget Refugee Stateless Reintegration IDP Bureau for Southern Africa, UNHCR will engage TOTAL Proposed budget communities will be strengthened. In Angola’s Lóvua (as of 30 June 2019) programmes programmes projects projects with regional mechanisms and structures in more settlement, a comprehensive livelihood strategy is predictable, inclusive and collaborative ways. These Regional Bureau for 2,835,000 10,713,799 10,713,799 10,437,597 being developed with WFP focusing on building Southern Africa*1 will include humanitarian and development actors refugee resilience and self-reliance. Also in Angola, Regional activities for 4,000,000 4,000,000 4,000,000 such as the African Union and SADC, relevant Southern Africa* UNHCR and UNDP are strengthening local governance, government institutions, the UN system, and financial Angola 28,998,774 21,897,368 120,000 22,017,368 22,465,891 social cohesion and resilience in refugee-hosting Congo 26,424,258 24,634,562 1,154,957 2,311,039 28,100,558 27,615,833 institutions, in line with the Global Compact, including communities in Lunda Norte Province. Similarly, Democratic Republic of the 149,477,340 85,606,360 5,787,283 6,233,495 56,147,386 153,774,525 188,141,176 its Comprehensive Refugees Response Framework. Congo in Mozambique UNHCR, FAO, UN-Habitat and WFP Malawi 15,392,055 20,919,809 20,919,809 17,349,902 In the DRC, a nexus pilot in North Kivu, co-chaired are collaborating on enhancing livelihood Mozambique 9,059,794 6,966,402 226,132 7,192,534 9,162,665 by UNHCR and UNDP, will support local efforts to opportunities for refugees residing in the Maratane South Africa Multi-Country 26,356,728 24,933,287 1,823,602 26,756,889 27,953,810 Office12 respond to, or prevent, displacement and to render settlement in Nampula Province. Zambia 22,094,310 20,680,509 20,680,509 19,800,193 Zimbabwe 11,409,490 6,781,881 297,952 7,079,833 6,905,754

TOTAL 292,047,749 227,133,978 9,409,927 6,233,495 58,458,424 301,235,825 333,832,820

* Regional Bureau and regional activities cover the whole Southern Africa region. IMPLICATIONS OF UNDERFUNDING 1 Coordinates activities in Botswana and South Africa and also covers the Comoros, Kingdom of Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mauritius, Namibia and the Seychelles.

Malawi’s encampment policy means 42,000 people families and vulnerable individuals are forced to sleep of concern in Dzaleka Camp rely on food assistance in open areas or in public buildings, exposed to provided by WFP. Food shortages often result in the elements, to protection risks and to violence. For Regional Bureau | 4% negative coping mechanisms, such as selling sex theft instance, due to a lack of funding, almost 7,700 additional Zimbabwe | 2% and begging. shelters are needed to enable South Sudanese refugee Regional activities | 1% Zambia | 7% families to live in safety and with dignity. Angola | 7% In Angola, UNHCR will continue to implement its South Africa 2019-2024 livelihood strategy, which aims to strengthen Furthermore, the WASH situation in refugee-hosting Multi-Country O ce | 9% Congo | 9% the self-reliance of refugees and host communities. areas in the DRC is often below accepted international A lack of comprehensive livelihoods support in the standard, with shared latrines and showers for many Mozambique | 3% Lóvua settlement, combined with restrictive conditions families, and limited access to water. This can have for mobility, a non-existent formal job market and a critical impact on the hygiene and health situation Malawi | 7% OT AA shortage of educational facilities (including vocational and lead, under certain circumstances, to major UGE training centres), leaves people of concern particularly outbreaks—such as cholera or water-related 301 vulnerable. diseases—given that diseases tend to spread out quickly in overcrowded camps and sites. The humanitarian situation for IDPs in the DRC is dire. UNHCR has responded to some of the overwhelming Limited funds also mean that often only the most needs but does not have the resources—namely, staff or urgent needs of people of concern are met. operational funds—to adequately deliver and coordinate Conversely, it means UNHCR is unable to reduce Democratic Republic of the Congo | 51% protection, emergency shelter and camp coordination people of concern’s dependence on humanitarian and management assistance in eastern DRC. A key need assistance in the region or fully implement its durable is shelter for both refugees and IDPs. Without it, many solutions agenda.

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