Print Friendy PageUNHCR | Washington Regional Office Resettlement UnitUNHCR Washington Resettlement’s Unit supports other UNHCR offices around the world, the US government, and non-governmental organizations to find homes for highly vulnerable refugees around the world. UNHCR not only protects and assists refugees, but also seeks solutions to their plight. The three durable solutions are voluntary repatriation, local integration, and resettlement. UNHCR helps refugees voluntarily repatriate to their homeland if conditions warrant, or helps them to integrate in their countries of asylum. However, there are situations in which resettlement to a third country is the only safe and viable durable solution for refugees. Of the 11.4 million refugees in the world, only a small fraction of that number (about one percent) is referred by UNHCR for resettlement. Resettlement under the auspices of UNHCR has a dual role. While it serves as a tool to ensure the protection of refugees, it is also one of the three durable solutions. It also addresses the special needs of refugees which cannot be met adequately in the country of asylum. |