The first cases of Covid-19 in the EHAGL region were reported on 13 March and the situation continues to evolve. All 11 countries of the region have reported cases and local transmission. While there has been no large-scale outbreak amongst UNHCR’s populations of concern, the need for preparedness is urgent. UNHCR is working closely with governments, the World Health Organization (WHO) and UN Country Teams to promote the inclusion of refugees, IDPs, stateless people and others of concern in national preparedness and response measures – in particular in health, hygiene and sanitation programmes, as well as distance learning and emergency social safety nets.

Internal displacement is also a phenomenon in countries in the EHAGL region and faced by several countries on a large scale. Over 8 million people are currently internally displaced. Efforts are underway to strengthen UNHCR’s role in inter-agency IDP responses in line with the 2019 IDP policy and the High Commissioner’s new Initiative on Internal Displacement which includes Ethiopia, South Sudan and Sudan. Recent opportunities to pursue solutions for IDPs in the region were bolstered by South Sudan’s accession and Ethiopia and Somalia’s ratification of the African Union Convention on the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa (Kampala Convention).

During 2019, some 220,000 people were granted international protection in the East and Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes Region (EHAGL), bringing the total number of refugees and asylum-seekers to 4.7 million. The region hosts some 67 per cent of the refugees on the African continent and 20 per cent of the global refugee population. The largest number of refugees and asylum-seekers in the region are from South Sudan, with significant numbers also from Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Somalia and Sudan. Governments have generally continued to maintain open-door asylum policies and embraced the Global Compact on Refugees by adopting progressive national refugee frameworks and promoting the inclusion of refugees into national health, education and social protection systems.

UNHCR in SUDAN ENGAGES IN COVID-19 PREVENTION AND RESPONSE: To protect refugees and IDPs as well as their hosts in Sudan from COVID-19, UNHCR and partners have rolled out a massive prevention, preparedness and response programme. The Agency joined WHO and UNICEF in spreading risk awareness by translating posters in refugee languages, by briefing volunteers and IDP leaders, tens of thousands of text messages sent to urban refugees in Khartoum. In addition, in recent weeks, UNHCR delivered 1 million bars of soap to IDPs, refugees and their most vulnerable Sudanese neighbours. The Agency also established a surveillance system in refugee camps for immediate isolation of potential cases, reporting to the health authorities and subsequent testing. According to the results, so far the virus which is spreading fast in the country has not infected any refugee.

UN Refugee Chief welcomes South Sudan’s government of national unity: UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi welcomes the formation of a long-awaited unity government in South Sudan, bringing political rivals together to work for lasting peace. The new government follows the ‘Revitalised agreement on the resolution of the conflict in the Republic of South Sudan’ signed in September 2018 by South Sudan’s warring parties The two main parties have agreed to join forces in running the conflict-affected nation and ending their years old differences. “The new government revives hope for a peaceful future for the people of South Sudan, who are suffering the consequences of this prolonged conflict,” High Commissioner Grandi said. “Millions of South Sudanese – including refugees and internally displaced people, deserve to see an end to their miseries.” This peace agreement has brought hope to the world’s youngest nation, which remains Africa’s largest humanitarian and refugee crisis with 2.2 million South Sudanese refugees and 1.46 million internally displaced. UNHCR is extending its support to South Sudan and its people in their endeavours to find peace and stability.

WFP'S CASH-BASED TRANSFER PROGRAM IN EAST DARFUR A SUCCESS: In 2019, WFP’s cash-based transfers to all South Sudanese refugees in Al Nimir refugee camp (home to more than 12,800 refugees in East Darfur State), have enabled many to rent land and farm their own crops by providing them with the capital they need to purchase the inputs they need and fund land access. Previously, most refugees in the camp were only able to work as labourers on host community farms. UNHCR is discussing with a private sector company how to include the refugee production of peanuts in the already existing host-community value chain

NUTRITION SERVICES INTERRUPTED IN EAST DARFUR: Service delivery was interrupted in Al Nimir camp, East Darfur State, and seven other nutrition centers following Sudan's Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC)‎’s decision to stop Mubaderoon, a local NGO partner with the American Refugee Committee and Care International Switzerland, from carrying out the nutritional activities. Consequently, UNHCR in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MOH) and WFP devised a contingency plan and managed to continue the provision of nutritional services through the MOH staff in coordination with HAC, pending selection of a new partner by the respective INGOs

70% OF REFUGEE CHILDREN IN AL LAIT LOCALITY IN SOUTH DARFUR OUT OF SCHOOL: Lack of enrolment of South Sudanese refugee children in Haskanita and Andrab schools in Al Lait locality, North Darfur State, remains a concern as close to 70% of the refugee children living in the area are out of school. Out of the more than 10,000 children in school age, only around 3,000 are currently enrolled. Some of the reasons behind the low enrolment rate is the engagement of children in farm work, language barriers, and lack of peaceful coexistence.

FRIENDS OF SUDAN (FOS) VOICE THEIR SUPPORT TO THE CIVILLIAN-LED GOVERNMENT: The Friends of Sudan (FOS) voiced their support to the civilian-led government at a meeting in Khartoum on 11 December and pledged to hold a donor conference in April 2020 to make concrete financial contributions to support the government’s economic reform efforts. UNHCR and inter-agency partners continue to advocate for the inclusion of refugees in these reforms. FOS includes 14 countries, the African Union, European Union, United Nations, the league of Arab States and three financial institutions, including the African Development Bank, International Monetary Fund and World Bank.

TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMENT OF SUDAN ALLOWS EXPELLED NGOS TO RETURN: The Transitional Government of Sudan has allowed international NGOs that were expelled by the previous regime in 2009 to re-register in Sudan. At the same time, the Federal Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC) issued decisions regarding the deregistration of 58 national non-government organizations perceived to be linked to the previous regime. These developments might affect the capacity of partners to provide humanitarian relief to South Sudanese refugees in Sudan