Abstract
The role of social protection is widely recognised as key to countries’ responses to crises and sudden calamities, such as the Covid-19 pandemic. The provision of social protection for everyone is recognised as a fundamental human right and is firmly grounded in international human rights laws and norms. However, vulnerable groups such as refugees and asylum seekers are often excluded from the existing social protection systems of countries, which tend to prioritise their own nationals. This exclusion was recently manifested through the ways in which governments across the world, and throughout the African continent specifically, responded to the adverse effects of the pandemic. These measures discriminated against refugees and asylum seekers, as shown in the context of three country case studies (i.e. Uganda, Ethiopia and South Africa), which have for a long time been preferred destinations for migrants, refugees and asylum seekers. Developing countries, particularly on the African continent, are host to approximately 85 per cent of refugees and asylum seekers globally, and therefore their continued exclusion from mainstream society and from receiving social protection benefits has severe implications.
The primary objective of this chapter is to discuss some of the most significant challenges/barriers experienced in terms of the realisation of the right of access to social protection for refugees and asylum seekers on the African continent during the Covid-19 era. This discussion explores when and how socio-economic rights, such as the right of access to social protection, are realised in Africa, and proceeds to use the experience of the selected African countries to illustrate the various barriers that exist in realising these rights for refugees and asylum seekers. Furthermore, the chapter explores opportunities that exist to overcome these challenges towards the realisation of the socio-economic rights of refugees and asylum seekers across Africa. The chapter concludes by providing several policy and other recommendations that are aimed at ensuring the effective realisation of the socio-economic rights of refugees and asylum seekers in Africa.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
Notes
- 1.
Y Assefa et al. ‘Analysis of the COVID-19 pandemic: Lessons towards a more effective response to public health emergencies’ (2022) 18 Globalization and Health 10.
- 2.
United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) ‘Social policy and social protection measures to build Africa better post-COVID-19’ Policy Brief No. 93 (March 2021), 2.
- 3.
As above.
- 4.
International Labour Organization (ILO) ‘World Social Protection Report 2020–22’ ILO Flagship Report (2021) 19.
- 5.
M Marchi et al. ‘Experience of discrimination during COVID-19 pandemic: The impact of public health measures and psychological distress among refugees and other migrants in Europe’ (2022) 22 BMC Public Health 942.
- 6.
MG Breglia and FC Rosati ‘Policy brief: Developmental social protection for refugees in the aftermath of Covid-19’ Task Force 10: Migration (September 2021) 3.
- 7.
UN General Assembly, Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 10 December 1948, 217 A (III) (UDHR), articles 22 and 25(1).
- 8.
UN General Assembly, Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees (1951 Refugee Convention), 28 July 1951, United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 189, p 137, articles 23 and 24(1)(b).
- 9.
As above.
- 10.
I Currie and J de Waal The Bill of Rights Handbook (2013) 592.
- 11.
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) ‘Social protection and the global compact on refugees’ (13 July 2018) https://www.unhcr.org/5b4f46817.pdf (accessed 31 March 2022).
- 12.
UN General Assembly, International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR), 16 December 1966, United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 993, p 3; see also South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) ‘3rd Economic and Social Rights Report’ (1999/2000) 12.
- 13.
SAHRC (n 12) 12.
- 14.
A Eide ‘The right to adequate food and to be free from hunger: Updated study on the right to food, submitted by Mr. Asbjørn Eide in accordance with Sub-Commission decision 1998/106’ UN Doc E/CN.4/Sub.2/1999/12 (28 June 1999) 95.
- 15.
As above.
- 16.
As above.
- 17.
CESCR (n 12), article 11(1).
- 18.
JC Hathaway The rights of refugees under international law (2005) 123.
- 19.
1951 Refugee Convention (n 9).
- 20.
Human Rights Watch ‘Living on the Margins: Inadequate protection for refugees and asylum seekers in Johannesburg’ (2005) 17 Human Rights Watch 1 at 52.
- 21.
J Bornman and J Oatway ‘South Africa: Migrants excluded from government food aid’ AllAfrica 13 May 2020 https://allafrica.com/stories/202005130663.html (accessed 12 April 2022).
- 22.
M Andrade, L Sato and M Hammad ‘Improving social protection for migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in Egypt: An overview of international practices’ UNICEF Research Report 57 (2021) 31.
- 23.
As above.
- 24.
International Justice Resource Center ‘Asylum & the rights of refugees’ https://ijrcenter.org/refugee-law/ (accessed 12 April 2022).
- 25.
1951 Refugee Convention (n 9); UN General Assembly, Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees, 31 January 1967, United Nations, Treaty Series, vol 606, p 267 (1967 Protocol).
- 26.
E Macharia-Mokabi and J Pfumorodze ‘Advancing refugee protection in Botswana through improved refugee status determination’ (2013) 13 African Human Rights Law Journal 152 at 154.
- 27.
1951 Refugee Convention (n 9). (n 9), article 1(A)(2).
- 28.
1951 Refugee Convention (n 9). (n 9), article 33.
- 29.
As above.
- 30.
UN General Assembly, Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, 10 December 1984, United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1465, p 85, article 3.
- 31.
1951 Refugee Convention (n 8), article 24(1)(b)..
- 32.
1951 Refugee Convention (n 8), article 23.
- 33.
1951 Refugee Convention (n 8), article 20.
- 34.
1951 Refugee Convention (n 8), article 24.
- 35.
As above.
- 36.
1951 Refugee Convention (n 8), article 17.
- 37.
OAU, Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa (OAU Convention), 10 September 1969, 1001 UNTS 45.
- 38.
UNHCR ‘Recommendations of the OAU/UNHCR symposium on refugees and forced population displacements in Africa’ (21 September 1994) https://www.unhcr.org/excom/scip/3ae68ccc14/recommendations-oauunhcr-symposium-refugees-forced-population-displacements.html (accessed 14 June 2022).
- 39.
OAU Convention (n 37), article 5(3).
- 40.
OAU Convention (n 37), article 5(3).
- 41.
UDHR (n 7).
- 42.
UDHR (n 7), article 22.
- 43.
As above.
- 44.
UDHR (n 7), article 25(1).
- 45.
As above.
- 46.
UNICEF ‘Improving social protection for migrants, refugees and asylum seekers: An overview of international practices’ Research Report (2021) 4.
- 47.
International Labour Organization (ILO), Convention Concerning Minimum Standards of Social Security, 28 June 1952, C102 (Social Security Convention). See SAHRC (n 8) 11–12.
- 48.
SAHRC (n 12) 12.
- 49.
Social Security Convention (n 47).
- 50.
International Labour Organization (ILO), Recommendation Concerning National Floors of Social Protection, 14 June 2012, R202.
- 51.
As above.
- 52.
Recommendation Concerning National Floors of Social Protection (n 50).
- 53.
Recommendation Concerning National Floors of Social Protection (n 50), article 3(a).
- 54.
Recommendation Concerning National Floors of Social Protection (n 50), article 6.
- 55.
G Koehler ‘Refugees and their rights’ (2020) http://www.icsw.org/index.php/news/85-refugees-and-their-rights (accessed 15 June 2022).
- 56.
Recommendation Concerning National Floors of Social Protection (n 50), article 5.
- 57.
AU ‘Second continental report on the implementation of Agenda 2063’ (2022).
- 58.
AU, Protocol to the Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community Relating to Free Movement of Persons, Right of Residence and Right of Establishment, 2018 (2018 Protocol).
- 59.
OAU, African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Banjul Charter), 27 June 1981, CAB/LEG/67/3 rev. 5, 21 ILM 58 (1982), articles 16 and 18(4).
- 60.
Article 2 of the Banjul Charter (n 59), article 2.
- 61.
United Nations (UN) ‘The global compact on refugees’ (9 February 2018) https://www.un.org/pga/72/wp-content/uploads/sites/51/2018/02/Global-Compact-on-Refugees-9-Feb.002.pdf (accessed 21 March 2022).
- 62.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) ‘Sustainable Development Goals: 17 Goals to transform our world’ https://www.fao.org/3/CA3121EN/ca3121en.pdf (accessed 4 April 2022).
- 63.
AU, Fifth Draft: Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Citizens to Social Protection and Social Security; African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights ‘High level continental seminar on the right to health and social protection in Africa - Key conclusions and recommendations’ (10 December 2021) https://www.achpr.org/news/viewdetail?id=229 (accessed 14 June 2022).
- 64.
Hathaway (n 18) 123.
- 65.
WHO ‘Migrants and refugees say COVID-19 has dramatically worsened their lives’ (18 December 2020) https://www.who.int/news-room/feature-stories/detail/migrants-and-refugees-say-covid-19-has-dramatically-worsened-their-lives (accessed 12 April 2022).
- 66.
UNHCR ‘Refugee health challenges remain high amid COVID-19’ (1 July 2021) https://www.unhcr.org/en-us/news/press/2021/7/60dda08e4/refugee-health-challenges-remain-high-amid-covid-19.html (accessed 12 April 2022).
- 67.
UN DESA (n 2), 5.
- 68.
UN DESA (n 2), 2.
- 69.
UN DESA (n 2), 2–3.
- 70.
As above.
- 71.
UN DESA (n 2), 5.
- 72.
Human Rights Watch ‘Africa: Covid-19 Aid Falling Short’ 12 October 2021 https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/10/12/africa-covid-19-aid-falling-short (accessed 12 April 2023).
- 73.
UNHCR ‘Uganda Comprehensive Refugee Response Portal’ 31 March 2023 https://data.unhcr.org/en/country/uga (accessed 3 April 2023).
- 74.
Act 21 of 2006.
- 75.
Refugees Regulations, No. 9 of 2010.
- 76.
UNHCR ‘Food Security Dashboard: Uganda Refugee Response Plan (RRP) 2020–2021’ 14 January 2022 https://data2.unhcr.org/en/documents/details/90440 (accessed 26 March 2023).
- 77.
Evan Easton-Calabria ‘Uganda has a remarkable history of hosting refugees, but its efforts are underfunded’ 26 August 2021 https://theconversation.com/uganda-has-a-remarkable-history-of-hosting-refugees-but-its-efforts-are-underfunded-166706 (accessed 3 March 2022).
- 78.
As above.
- 79.
UNHCR ‘WFP, UNHCR, RRS appeal for funding to continue feeding over 750,000 refugees in Ethiopia’ 9 August 2022 https://www.unhcr.org/africa/news/news-releases/wfp-unhcr-rrs-appeal-funding-continue-feeding-over-750-000-refugees-ethiopia (accessed 3 March 2022).
- 80.
A Deshpande et al. ‘Social assistance in Ethiopia during COVID-19’ 28 May 2021 https://www.brookings.edu/blog/future-development/2021/05/28/social-assistance-in-ethiopia-during-covid-19/ (accessed 3 March 2022).
- 81.
As above.
- 82.
As above.
- 83.
AS Deshpande et al. ‘Coverage of social assistance in Ethiopia during the COVID-19 pandemic: a time-to-event analysis’ (2022) BMJ Global Health 8.
- 84.
As above.
- 85.
UNHCR ‘Ethiopia Country Refugee Response Plan 2020–2021’ 23 January 2020 https://reliefweb.int/report/ethiopia/ethiopia-country-refugee-response-plan-2020-2021 (accessed 3 April 2023).
- 86.
As above.
- 87.
FC Mukumbang et al. ‘Unspoken inequality: How COVID-19 has exacerbated existing vulnerabilities of asylum-seekers, refugees, and undocumented migrants in South Africa’ (2020) 19 International Journal for Equity in Health 141.
- 88.
Act 130 of 1998 (Refugee Act).
- 89.
Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (Constitution), Section 27(1)(c).
- 90.
Constitution (n 89), section 27(2).
- 91.
Constitution (n 89), section 28(1)(c).
- 92.
Constitution (n 89), sections 1(a).
- 93.
Khosa v Minister of Social Development; Mahlaule v Minister of Social Development 2004 (6) SA 505 (CC) para 111 (Khosa case).
- 94.
The Khosa case (n 93) para 47.
- 95.
The Khosa case (n 93) para 85.
- 96.
J Seekings and N Nattrass Class, race, and inequality in South Africa (2005) 45.
- 97.
J Seekings The social question in pre-apartheid South Africa: Religion and the state (2020) 201.
- 98.
Refugee Act (n 88), section 27(b).
- 99.
L Gronbach et al. ‘Social protection in the COVID-19 pandemic: Lessons from South Africa’ CGD Policy Paper 252 (February 2022) 3.
- 100.
As above.
- 101.
N Noyoo ‘South Africa’s social policy response to COVID-19: Relief measures in an unequal society’ CRC 1342 Covid-19 Social Policy Response Series 21 (2021) 6.
- 102.
Noyoo (n 101) 3.
- 103.
As above.
- 104.
F Khan and M Kolabhai ‘Bureaucratic barriers to social protection for refugees and asylum seekers during the COVID-19 disaster in South Africa’ (2021) 7 AHMR African Human Mobility Review 74 at 78.
- 105.
Disaster Management Act: Directions Regarding Measures to Address, Prevent and Combat the Spread of COVID-19 Relating to the Freshwater and Marine Fishing Sectors (GN 538 of 2020, GG 43324, 14 May 2020).
- 106.
Khan and M Kolabhai (n 104) 85.
- 107.
Scalabrini Centre Cape Town and Another v Minister of Social Development and Others 2021 (1) SA 553 (GP).
- 108.
Amnesty International ‘South Africa: Failing asylum system is exacerbating xenophobia’ (29 October 2019) https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2019/10/south-africa-failing-asylum-system-is-exacerbating-xenophobia/ (accessed 19 March 2022).
- 109.
T Washinyira ‘Refugees struggle to renew their asylum documents with Home Affairs online system’ (4 February 2022) https://www.groundup.org.za/article/refugees-struggle-with-home-affairs-online-system/ (accessed 2 April 2022).
- 110.
L Patel ‘South Africa’s social welfare system faces deepening challenges’ The Conversation 16 March 2016 https://theconversation.com/south-africas-social-welfare-system-faces-deepening-challenges-55962 (accessed 2 April 2022).
- 111.
ILO (n 4) 58.
- 112.
Africa Health Agenda International Conference ‘The state of universal health coverage in Africa: Report of the AHAIC Commission’ (2021) 6.
- 113.
WHO (n 65).
- 114.
As above.
- 115.
ILO (n 4) 19.
- 116.
S Devereux ‘Social protection responses to COVID-19 in Africa’ (2021) 21 Global Social Policy 421 at 422.
- 117.
UN, ‘UN agencies appeal for $266 million to feed refugees in eastern Africa’ UN News 2 March 2021 https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/03/1086122 (accessed 28 March 2022).
- 118.
Devereux (n 118) 428.
- 119.
E Manirambona et al. ‘Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the food rations of refugees in Rwanda’ (2021) 20 International Journal for Equity in Health 107.
- 120.
Human Rights Watch (n 20) 2.
- 121.
Human Rights Watch (n 20) 1.
- 122.
Human Rights Watch (n 20) 10.
- 123.
Human Rights Watch (n 20) 22.
- 124.
Minister of Home Affairs v Watchenuka [2004] 1 All SA 21 (SCA) (Watchenuka case).
- 125.
The Watchenuka case.
- 126.
Human Rights Watch (n 20) 22.
- 127.
Human Rights Watch (n 72).
- 128.
As above.
- 129.
Human Rights Watch (n 20) 12.
- 130.
Human Rights Watch (n 20) 22.
- 131.
SS Nambuya, J Okumu and R Pagnucco ‘Refugee socio-cultural integration and peaceful co-existence in Uganda’ (2018) 2 The Journal of Social Encounters 81.
- 132.
K Siegfried ‘South Africa’s flawed asylum system’ The New Humanitarian 30 April 2013 https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/analysis/2013/04/30/south-africa-s-flawed-asylum-system (accessed 7 April 2022).
- 133.
As above.
- 134.
S Masuku ‘How South Africa is denying refugees their rights: what needs to change’ The Conversation 12 May 2020 https://theconversation.com/how-south-africa-is-denying-refugees-their-rights-what-needs-to-change-135692 (accessed 7 April 2022).
- 135.
As above.
- 136.
As above.
- 137.
Khan and Kolabhai (n 104) 75.
- 138.
OAU Convention (n 37), article 2(4).
- 139.
P Lutz et al. ‘Responsibility-sharing in refugee protection: Lessons from climate governance’ (2021) 65 International Studies Quarterly 476.
Bibliography
Books
Currie, I & de Waal, J The Bill of Rights Handbook (2013).
Hathaway, JC The rights of refugees under international law (Cambridge University Press 2005).
Seekings J & Nattrass, N Class, Race, and Inequality in South Africa (2005).
J Seekings The social question in pre-apartheid South Africa: Religion and the state (2020).
Journal Articles
Assefa, Y; Gilks, CF; Reid, S; Van de Pas, R; Gete, DG & Van Damme, W ‘Analysis of the COVID-19 pandemic: lessons towards a more effective response to public health emergencies’ (2022) Globalization and Health.
Deshpande, AS et al. ‘Coverage of social assistance in Ethiopia during the COVID-19 pandemic: a time-to-event analysis’ (2022) BMJ Global Health 8.
Devereux, S ‘Social protection responses to COVID-19 in Africa’ (2021) 21 Global Social Policy 421.
Eide, A The right to an adequate standard of living including the right to food (1999).
Human Rights Watch ‘Living on the Margins: Inadequate protection for refugees and asylum seekers in Johannesburg’ (2005) Human Rights Watch Vol. 17, No. 15(A).
Khan, F & Kolabhai, M ‘Bureaucratic Barriers to Social Protection for Refugees and Asylum Seekers during the COVID-19 Disaster in South Africa’ (2021) 7 AHMR African Human Mobility Review.
Lutz, P; Stünzi, A & Manser-Egli, S ‘Responsibility-sharing in refugee protection: Lessons from climate governance’ (2021) 65 International Studies Quarterly 476.
M.G Breglia & FC Rosati “Policy Brief: Developmental Social Protection for Refugees in the Aftermath of COVID-19”.
Macharia-Mokabi, E & Pfumorodze, J ‘Advancing refugee protection in Botswana through improved refugee status determination’ (2013) African Human Rights Law Journal (AHRLJ).
Manirambona, E; Uwizeyimana, T; Uwiringiyimana, E & Reddy, H ‘Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the food rations of refugees in Rwanda’ (2021) 20 International Journal for Equity in Health.
Marchi, M; Magarini, FM; Chiarenza, A; Galeazzi, GM; Paloma, V; Garrido, R; Ioannidi, E; Vassilikou, K; de Matos, MG; Gaspar, T; Guedes, FB; Primdahl, NL; Skovdal, M; Murphy, R; ‘Experience of discrimination during COVID-19 pandemic: the impact of public health measures and psychological distress among refugees and other migrants in Europe’ (2022) BMC Public Health.
Mukumbang, FC, Ambe AN & Adebiyi BO ‘Unspoken Inequality: how COVID-19 has exacerbated existing vulnerabilities of asylum-seekers, refugees, and undocumented migrants in South Africa’ (2020)19 International Journal for Equity in Health.
Nambuya, SS, Okumu, J & Pagnucco, R ‘Refugee socio-cultural integration and peaceful co-existence in Uganda’ (2018) 2 The Journal of Social Encounters.
Noyoo, N ‘South Africa’s social policy response to COVID-19: Relief measures in an unequal society’, Social Policy Response Series, 21 (2021).
Papers/Reports
Africa Health Agenda International Conference ‘The state of universal health coverage in Africa: Report of the AHAIC Commission’ (2021).
Gronbach, L; Seekings, J & Megannon, V ‘Social Protection in the COVID-19 Pandemic: Lessons from South Africa’ Policy Paper.
International Labour Organization (ILO) ‘World Social Protection Report 2020–22’ ILO Flagship Report (2021).
South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) ‘3rd Economic and Social Rights Report’ (1999/2000).
United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) “Social policy and social protection measures to build Africa better post-COVID-19” Policy Brief No. 93 (March 2021).
UNICEF ‘Improving social protection for migrants, refugees and asylum seekers: An overview of international practices’ Research Report (2021).
Case Law
Khosa v Minister of Social Development; Mahlaule v Minister of Social Development 2004 (6) SA 505 (CC).
Minister of Home Affairs and Others v Watchenuka and Another [2004] 1 All SA 21 (SCA).
Scalabrini Centre Cape Town and Another v Minister of Social Development and Others 2021 (1) SA 553 (GP).
Legislation
Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996.
Disaster Management Act: Directions Regarding Measures to Address, Prevent and Combat the Spread of COVID-19 Relating to the Freshwater and Marine Fishing Sectors (G.N. Notice 538 of 2020). (South Africa).
Refugee Act 130 of 1998 (South Africa).
Refugees Act 21 of 2006 (Uganda).
Refugees Regulations, No. 9 of 2010 (Uganda).
AU Documents
African Union (AU) ‘Second continental report on the implementation of Agenda 2063’ (2022).
Fifth Draft: Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Citizens to Social Protection and Social Security.
Organisation of African Unity (OAU), African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Banjul Charter), 27 June 1981, CAB/LEG/67/3 rev. 5, 21 ILM 58 (1982).
OAU’s Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa (1969 OAU Convention).
UN Documents
Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees (1951 Refugee Convention).
International Labour Organization (ILO), Convention Concerning Minimum Standards of Social Security, 28 June 1952, C102 (Social Security Convention).
ILO, Recommendation Concerning National Floors of Social Protection, 14 June 2012, R202.
UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR), General Comment 19: The right to social security (Art 9 of the Covenant), 4 February 2008, E/C.12/GC/19.
UN General Assembly, Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees, 31 January 1967, United Nations, Treaty Series, vol 606, p 267 (1967 Protocol).
UN General Assembly, Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 10 December 1948, 217 A (III) (UDHR).
UN General Assembly, Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, 10 December 1984, United Nations, Treaty Series, vol 1465.
Internet Reports
Andrade, M; Sato, L & Hammad, M ‘Improving social protection for migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in Egypt: An overview of international practices’ Unicef Research Report No. 57 (2021).
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) ‘Social protection and the global compact on refugees’ (13 July 2018) https://www.unhcr.org/5b4f46817.pdf (accessed 31 March 2022).
UNHCR ‘Ethiopia Country Refugee Response Plan 2020-2021’ 23 January 2020 https://reliefweb.int/report/ethiopia/ethiopia-country-refugee-response-plan-2020-2021 (accessed 3 April 2023a).
UNHCR ‘Food Security Dashboard: Uganda Refugee Response Plan (RRP) 2020-2021’ 14 January 2022a https://data2.unhcr.org/en/documents/details/90440 (accessed 26 March 2023).
UN, ‘The global compact on refugees’ 09 February 2018 https://www.un.org/pga/72/wp-content/uploads/sites/51/2018/02/Global-Compact-on-Refugees-9-Feb.002.pdf (accessed 21 March 2022).
Internet Sources
African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights ‘High level continental seminar on the right to health and social protection in Africa - Key conclusions and recommendations’ (10 December 2021) https://www.achpr.org/news/viewdetail?id=229 (accessed 14 June 2022).
Amnesty International ‘South Africa: Failing asylum system is exacerbating xenophobia’ (29 October 2019) https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2019/10/south-africa-failing-asylum-system-is-exacerbating-xenophobia/ (accessed 19 March 2022).
Deshpande, A et al. ‘Social assistance in Ethiopia during COVID-19’ 28 May 2021 https://www.brookings.edu/blog/future-development/2021/05/28/social-assistance-in-ethiopia-during-covid-19/ (accessed 3 March 2022).
Easton-Calabria, E ‘Uganda has a remarkable history of hosting refugees, but its efforts are underfunded’ 26 August 2021 https://theconversation.com/uganda-has-a-remarkable-history-of-hosting-refugees-but-its-efforts-are-underfunded-166706 (accessed 3 March 2022).
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) ‘Sustainable Development Goals: 17 Goals to Transform our World’ https://www.fao.org/3/CA3121EN/ca3121en.pdf (accessed 4 April 2022).
G Koehler ‘Refugees and their rights’ 2020 http://www.icsw.org/index.php/news/85-refugees-and-their-rights (accessed 15 June 2022).
Human Rights Watch ‘Africa: Covid-19 Aid Falling Short’ 12 October 2021 https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/10/12/africa-covid-19-aid-falling-short (accessed 12 April 2023).
International Justice Resource Center (IJRC) ‘Asylum & the Rights of Refugees’ https://ijrcenter.org/refugee-law/ (accessed 12 April 2022).
J Bornman & J Oatway ‘South Africa: migrants excluded from government food aid’ 13 May 2020 https://allafrica.com/stories/202005130663.html (accessed 12 April 2022).
Masuku, S ‘How South Africa is denying refugees their rights: what needs to change’ The Conversation 12 May 2020 https://theconversation.com/how-south-africa-is-denying-refugees-their-rights-what-needs-to-change-135692 (accessed 7 April 2022).
Patel, L ‘South Africa’s social welfare system faces deepening challenges’ The Conversation 16 March 2016 https://theconversation.com/south-africas-social-welfare-system-faces-deepening-challenges-55962 (accessed 2 April 2022).
Siegfried, K ‘South Africa’s flawed asylum system’ The New Humanitarian 30 April 2013 https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/analysis/2013/04/30/south-africa-s-flawed-asylum-system (accessed 7 April 2022).
UNHCR ‘Refugee health challenges remain high amid COVID-19’ 1 July 2021 https://www.unhcr.org/en-us/news/press/2021/7/60dda08e4/refugee-health-challenges-remain-high-amid-covid-19.html (accessed 12 April 2022).
UNHCR ‘Recommendations of the OAU/UNHCR symposium on refugees and forced population displacements in Africa’ 21 September 1994 https://www.unhcr.org/excom/scip/3ae68ccc14/recommendations-oauunhcr-symposium-refugees-forced-population-displacements.html (accessed 14 June 2022).
UNHCR ‘Uganda Comprehensive Refugee Response Portal’ 31 March 2023b https://data.unhcr.org/en/country/uga (accessed 3 April 2023).
UNHCR ‘WFP, UNHCR, RRS appeal for funding to continue feeding over 750,000 refugees in Ethiopia’ 09 August 2022b https://www.unhcr.org/africa/news/news-releases/wfp-unhcr-rrs-appeal-funding-continue-feeding-over-750-000-refugees-ethiopia (accessed 3 March 2022).
UN, ‘UN agencies appeal for $266 million to feed refugees in eastern Africa’ UN News 2 March 2021 https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/03/1086122 (accessed 28 March 2022).
Washinyira, T ‘Refugees struggle to renew their asylum documents with Home Affairs online system’ (4 February 2022) https://www.groundup.org.za/article/refugees-struggle-with-home-affairs-online-system/ (accessed 2 April 2022).
WHO ‘Migrants and refugees say COVID-19 has dramatically worsened their lives’ (18 December 2020) https://www.who.int/news-room/feature-stories/detail/migrants-and-refugees-say-covid-19-has-dramatically-worsened-their-lives (accessed 12 April 2022).
Acknowledgment
The author wishes to acknowledge the research assistance and support of Tatenda Kaponda (Children’s Rights Project Assistant at the Scalabrini Centre of Cape Town), with gratitude.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Chege, K. (2023). The Right of Access to Social Protection for Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Africa in the Covid-19 Era. In: Durojaye, E., Nanima, R.D., Idowu-Ojo, A., Mirugi-Mukundi, G. (eds) Realising Socio-Economic Rights of Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Africa. Politics of Citizenship and Migration. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-16548-1_3
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-16548-1_3
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-031-16547-4
Online ISBN: 978-3-031-16548-1
eBook Packages: Political Science and International StudiesPolitical Science and International Studies (R0)