Published on: 2026-06-17
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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The international community must urgently expand refugee resettlement programs, as the quotas allocated today are insufficient. This is stated in the new report of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).
According to the forecasts of the Administration, by 2027 about 2.4 million refugees worldwide will need to be resettled, as they still face problems in the countries that provided them refuge and cannot return to their homeland for security reasons.
Although this indicator decreased by six percent compared to 2026, continuing the downward trend outlined since 2025, this decline is due to specific changes in a number of regions — both encouraging and alarming.
“In Syria, the change of government in December 2024 opened the way for the voluntary return of citizens, despite the persisting instability in the country, which has reduced the forecasted need for relocation for some groups,” said UNHCR representative Jackie Keegan.
Afghan refugees, on the contrary, are opposed to returning to their homeland from Iran and Pakistan against their will, where extremely unfavorable conditions have developed.
At the same time, Afghans still make up the largest group in need of resettlement. They are followed by refugees from South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, as well as Rohingya refugees, most of whom are located in Bangladesh.
In 2025, with the assistance of UNHCR, about 37 thousand refugees will be relocated to new countries. This is significantly lower than in 2024, when this figure exceeded 116 thousand. It also constitutes only a small share of the total number of those in need of resettlement.
In 2022, the international community set a target of 130,000 resettlement places for 2027, but due to quota reductions, this goal is most likely not going to be achieved.
“This is a consequence of changes in the appointment policies of countries, which have led to a suspension of acceptance, tightening of selection criteria, and delays in document processing,” Kigan said.
Many countries that receive the largest number of refugees call for the expansion of resettlement programs as a form of fair distribution of international responsibility. Countries with low and middle income levels receive 68 percent of all refugees. Despite the fact that most of them continue to show hospitality, internal resources and infrastructure are under colossal strain.
“Resettlement, which became the first solution that the international community implemented after the Second World War, is a key element of the strategy of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Balam Salih. Its goal is to halve the number of refugees by 2035 who are dependent on prolonged displacement and humanitarian aid,” Kigan stated.
The administration recalls the following advantages of resettlement programs: reduction of the burden on host countries, stabilization of entire regions, strengthening of international partnership ties, and reduction in the number of illegal, life-threatening routes.
“Resettlement is not charity, but a long-term solution that helps break the vicious circle of forced displacement for future generations. By settling in a new place, refugees bring benefits to local communities through their work and entrepreneurship, while simultaneously supporting the relatives left behind in their country of origin or first asylum,” Kigan concluded.
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