US to Boost Rohingya Refugee Resettlement from Bangladesh in 2024
The United States has identified the Rohingya crisis as a “priority,” committing to increase the number of Rohingya refugees resettled from Bangladesh through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) in fiscal year 2024.
At the recent 2023 Global Refugee Forum, the U.S. also urged other countries to expand their efforts in resettling Rohingya refugees. This announcement came as part of a broader initiative to leverage U.S. experience and leadership roles within the Resettlement Diplomacy Network and the Priority Situations Core Group (PSCG) to foster new third-country resettlement solutions.
The U.S. aims to enhance Rohingya refugees’ employment prospects through its Welcome Corps at Work, a new labor mobility program. This initiative will prioritize access to job opportunities and support programs for numeracy, literacy, vocational training, and formal skills certification, benefiting both Rohingya refugees and the host communities
Engagement with private sector partners will be key in providing financial, technical, and in-kind support for these educational programs. Additionally, the U.S. plans to collaborate with donor communities and host governments to bolster efforts by international financial institutions, ensuring effective support for Rohingya refugees and surrounding communities
The U.S. is committed to improving the coherence of its humanitarian and development assistance, developing programs that address the unique health and protection needs of Rohingya refugees.
During the Global Refugee Forum, the U.S. made 26 distinct commitments aimed at strengthening refugee resettlement and addressing the needs of both refugees and host communities amid unprecedented global displacement. Since the start of the Global Compact on Refugees in 2016, the number of forcibly displaced individuals has soared from 65.6 million to over 130 million, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
The U.S. emphasized that the urgency for the international community to broaden support for refugees is greater than ever, reaffirming its dedication to the Global Compact on Refugees and its role in championing refugee protection and solutions