UNHCR has recently published its “Projected Global Resettlement Needs in 2019”, which reveals a widening gap between the number of refugees in need of resettlement and the places made available by governments around the world. According to the report, 1.4 million people are expected to be in need of resettlement in 2019, a 17% increase from 2018 levels, while the number of resettlement places dropped to 75,000 in 2017.
The report notes that currently 35 countries take part in UNHCR’s resettlement programme. Africa remains the region with the highest projected resettlement needs with an estimated 629,744 refugees in need of resettlement. Refugees from Syria and the DRC made up two-thirds of the refugees submitted for resettlement by UNHCR in 2017.
In the region of Europe including Turkey, Russia, Ukraine, Balkans and Caucasus the total resettlement needs have increased by almost 40 per cent from the previous year, reaching 420,750 persons projected to be in need of resettlement in 2019. Over 95 per cent of the needs are represented by Syrian refugees in Turkey, which also account for the vast majority of the increase in needs.
With this report, UNHCR also reiterated its appeal to countries to take in more refugees with protection needs from a diverse range of countries and to commit over a sustained basis.
“Resettlement is not only a critical lifeline for some of the most vulnerable people on the planet, it’s also a tangible way governments and communities can better share responsibility for the global displacement crisis”, affirmed the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi.
The EU Resettlement Framework “towards an integrated, sustainable and holistic migration policy, based on solidarity and fair sharing of responsibilities” was proposed by the Commission in July 2016 and the Committee of Permanent Representatives (Coreper) endorsed a mandate for negotiations on behalf of the European Council in November 2017. The framework was on the agenda when Coreper met on June 20, 2018 but negotiations are currently on hold.
32,000 refugees have been resettled to Member States under EU schemes since 2015 and an additional 50,000 resettlements have been pledged under a new scheme proposed by President Juncker in September 2017, 4,252 of which have already been resettled.
For further information:
- UNHCR, Gap between refugee resettlement needs and opportunities widens, 25 June 2018
- UN News, Resettlement needs set to rise to 1.4 million people in 2019, UN refugee agency reports, 25 June 2018
- ECRE, Policy Note: Untying the EU Resettlement Framework, October 2016
Photo: (CC) bastian walthierer, March 2016
This article appeared in the ECRE Weekly Bulletin . You can subscribe to the Weekly Bulletin here.