Southern Africa
Southern Africa
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Regional overview
Some 10.1 million forcibly displaced people, returnees and stateless people are hosted in the Southern Africa region, most being families displaced within the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Mozambique.
Southern Africa has long been prey to economic instability, conflict and food insecurity. Climate events further complicate forced displacement in the region, and growing social inequalities challenge stability and democracy.
Around 1 million refugees are living in protracted displacement situations, and an increasing number are moving onwards, joining others as part of mixed movements of refugees and migrants on routes within and to sub-Saharan Africa.
Ongoing emergencies in Southern Africa
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DR Congo emergency
In 2025, due to continuing insecurity and an alarming resurgence of violence generated by non-state armed groups in the past three years, nearly 7 million people are internally displaced across the eastern provinces of Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu and Tanganyika.
UNHCR's work in the region
UNHCR works to ensure that the displaced have access to services such as education and health care across the region. We also safeguard access to protection and asylum, respond with life-saving assistance and work to reduce and prevent statelessness.
UNHCR has strengthened its emergency preparedness and response and is implementing innovative projects to reduce the impact of climate change. We advocate for reinforced asylum systems and legal protection frameworks, including child protection systems.
We also continue scaling up livelihoods, financial inclusion and self-reliance strategies to foster local integration and voluntary repatriation.
Population and financial overview
Southern Africa
Use the year selector to access information from previous years.
Populations
figures
figures
Note: The "Stateless" category does not include stateless people who are also in other categories, to avoid double counting. The total number of stateless, across all categories, is .
Source: UNHCR Refugee Data Finder.
Population by country
Population by country
Source: UNHCR Refugee Data Finder.
Population by origin
Population by origin
Source: UNHCR Refugee Data Finder.
Financial
Select Operation
Budget by Impact Areas
Budget by Impact Areas
Source: 2025 budget was approved by ExCom in October 2024 while the 2024 budget figures include the latest supplementary appeals and are updated on a monthly basis.
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas
Source: 2025 budget was approved by ExCom in October 2024 while the 2024 budget figures include the latest supplementary appeals and are updated on a monthly basis.
Budget by Operation
Budget by Operation
Source: 2025 budget was approved by ExCom in October 2024 while the 2024 budget figures include the latest supplementary appeals and are updated on a monthly basis.
total POC
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African Union
The African Union (AU) is one of UNHCR's most important partners and a leader in global efforts to resolve forced displacement, a significant challenge facing the continent.
Founded in 2001, the Union brings together 55 member states that join forces to address major political, social and economic issues, including preventing and ending conflict and promoting pan-African development and integration through its ambitious Agenda 2063.