Very limited spaces offered for Rohingya resettlement: UNHCR

The UN Refugee Agency has welcomed and greatly appreciated the announcement by the United States to increase the number of resettlement places for Rohingya refugees.

However, there are very limited spaces offered for resettlement, and these are dependent on many factors, the UNHCR 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," said Mostafa Mohammad Sazzad Hossain, spokesperson at the UNHCR office in Dhaka today.

At the same time, they need to work towards improving refugees' resilience and investing in their self-reliance to make them less dependent on humanitarian assistance, he said.

Responding to a question, Mostafa said resettlement may be considered an option for refugees living in extremely vulnerable conditions and who, for various reasons, are unable or unwilling to return to their country of origin.

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.