Regional update – Southern Africa As of end July, there have been 3.26 million reported cases of COVID-19 across the 16 countries in the region. The socio-economic impact of the pandemic is devastating, with poverty and food insecurity on the rise and previously self-sufficient refugees and asylumseekers approaching UNHCR for direct assistance as the pandemic protracts. Refugees and asylum-seekers have been included in national response plans across the region, although health systems are under acute pressure and there are serious gaps in access to testing in refugee-hosting areas, especially in the Congo (Republic of), Democratic Republic of the Congo and Mozambique. Vaccination programmes include persons of concern to UNHCR, although the rollout is slow across the region due to gaps in supply, vaccine hesitancy and weak national vaccine delivery systems. A total of 4,326 persons of concern are reported to have received a first dose, and 443 had received the second dose as of end July. Figures mainly reflect vaccination in camps and settlements, as it is challenging to track vaccination in urban areas. Throughout the pandemic, UNHCR has supported national health responses in the region by providing medical equipment and supplies to health facilities, supporting some 71 government facilities and 35 facilities in refugee camps and settlements. Interventions in water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) have also remained a priority as a preventive measure. Since the pandemic began, UNHCR has reached 2.8 million persons of concern through risk communication activities and provided soap to 2.2 million. With the support of UNHCR, displaced communities across the region have played an active role in raising awareness about preventing the spread of COVID-19 and combating vaccine hesitancy. B. Progress and challenges in achieving the global strategic priorities Favourable protection environment The political will expressed by countries in the region at the 2019 Global Refugee Forum is evident as many progress towards realizing their pledges, despite the additional challenges posed by the pandemic. To support ratification of the refugee conventions and other key international and regional instruments, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and UNHCR established a five-year joint action plan (2020-2024). The plan also aims to strengthen research, harmonize processes and support the development of appropriate policies on asylum, internal displacement and statelessness. Progress has been made towards strengthening asylum systems in several countries, although systems and processes are predominantly overwhelmed. In the Congo (Republic of), a national asylum law is under consideration by the Parliament, while Seychelles and Zimbabwe have requested technical support to draft national legal asylum frameworks. Comoros has expressed its intention to ratify the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and the 1969 Organization of African Unity Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa. Important steps have also been made towards protecting IDPs. Mozambique adopted a national policy on IDPs in line with the African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa (Kampala Convention) in August 2021, and the Congo (Republic of) is in the process of drafting similar legislation. UNHCR is supporting these domestication processes. The Governments of the Congo (Republic of) and the Democratic Republic of the Congo are also making preparations for the targeted registration of internally displaced populations with the support of UNHCR. Following reports of the forced return of 10,000 Mozambicans seeking refuge, a Joint Communiqué by the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights, the Special Rapporteur on refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants in Africa and UNHCR was issued on 15 July. The three parties appealed for those fleeing the conflict in Cabo Delgado to have access to territory and asylum. Smaller scale incidents related to access to territory were reported in Madagascar and Zambia. Progress towards the eradication of statelessness has been made in almost every country in the region. The Congo (Republic of), Democratic Republic of the Congo, Namibia and Zambia are moving towards accession to the statelessness conventions, and Lesotho, 2