Today, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has highly and greatly appreciated the much anticipated announcement by the United States to increase the number of resettlement places for Rohingya refugees.
In Dhaka, Mostafa Mohammad Sazzad Hossain, spokesperson at the UNHCR office said, “Any resettlement will have to be part of a comprehensive approach with the main focus to remain on preparing the Rohingya for voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return.”
However, there are very limited spaces offered for resettlement, and these are dependent on many factors, the UNHCR said.
Simultaneously, the organization thinks ways should be made towards improving refugees’ resilience and investing in their self-reliance to make them less dependent on humanitarian assistance.
Responding to a question, Mostafa said resettlement may be considered an option as the livelihood here is uncertain and on the other hand the primary solution preferred by a large majority of Rohingya refugees is a dignified, safe, voluntary, and sustainable return, once conditions in Myanmar are conducive for such return, said the UN Refugee Agency.
