Regional update – Southern Africa Madagascar and Namibia are in the process of reforming their legal nationality frameworks. Botswana submitted four new pledges, and the Republic of the Congo is issuing civil registration documents to those identified as undocumented during the 2019 census. Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe are including statelessness questions in their population censuses. Legal aid was provided to some 8,000 persons in Madagascar, Mozambique and South Africa to support access to documentation or to confirm nationality, and approximately 500 people had their nationalities confirmed. The Pan-African Parliament is reviewing a draft model law on nationality and statelessness. Fair protection process and documentation Registration rates returned to pre-pandemic levels in most States in the region, including birth registration. Positive developments include the Government of Malawi agreeing to amend its national registration legislation to include refugees, and Mauritius and UNHCR having agreed on standard operating procedures to prevent refoulement and facilitate refugee status determination and solutions. In South Africa, a four-year plan to address the backlog of 150,000 cases pending in the appeal process began in March. Within mixed flows, people are at times subjected to human rights violations including extortion, abandonment and physical and sexual violence. In collaboration with States and regional bodies, UNHCR is working to ensure better protection for affected populations, including support to the development of the SADC Disaster Displacement Strategy, which aims to address the root causes of mixed flows, and prevent protection incidents. In Zimbabwe, alternatives to detention have been incorporated into the referral mechanism for asylum-seekers and refugees. Border monitoring visits are carried out regularly, and a reception centre at Zimbabwe’s border with Mozambique was renovated to receive new arrivals. Security from violence and exploitation Gender-based violence is increasing among displaced populations, due to the hardships of the pandemic combined with social norms. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, incidents of widespread and systematic sexual violence against Congolese women and girls, perpetrated by armed groups, remain of concern. Almost 2,800 incidents were recorded on the territory in the first half of the year. UNHCR and partners continue to work with local authorities and humanitarian actors to ensure that psychosocial and medical support is provided to survivors, though ongoing conflict and long distances required to reach health centres are making it extremely difficult for them to access assistance. UNHCR has established solid prevention and response mechanisms in the region and is working towards mainstreaming risk mitigation. Community protection structures and holistic support for survivors’ health, psychological wellbeing and access to justice are core elements of UNHCR’s response to all forms of violence and exploitation in the region, including gender-based violence. In the Congo (Republic of), Mozambique and South Africa, training and awareness-raising sessions on preventing gender-based violence and sexual exploitation and abuse were carried out for the local authorities, civil society, and refugee, IDP and host communities. A safe house and a one-stop centre providing services and referrals were established in Zambia. Basic needs and services Across southern Africa, operations are prioritizing humanitarian assistance to ensure basic needs are met, though growing demand triggered by the pandemic is leaving increasing numbers in a vulnerable position. Support to health systems and services is a priority. High morbidity and mortality rates, low nutrition, poor healthcare infrastructure and services, poor living conditions, and the prevalence of HIV/AIDS and malaria present major challenges in the region. Access to care and treatment for refugees and asylum-seekers remains an area for improvement in most countries. Climate and economic shocks, combined with gaps in food rations and supplementary feeding programmes, are driving food insecurity, which is expected to remain high in places like 3