US offer for Rohingya resettlement very limited: UNHCR

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has welcomed and greatly appreciated the announcement by the US to increase the number of resettlement places for Rohingyas.

However, there are very limited spaces offered for resettlement, and these are dependent on many factors, 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 UNHCR office in Dhaka on Sunday.

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

Responding to a question, he said resettlement may be considered an option for refugees living in extremely vulnerable conditions.