We work hard to protect and assist refugees, but our ultimate goal is to find solutions that allow them to rebuild their lives.
Finding solutions that enable refugees to live their lives in dignity and peace is a core part of our work. They can include voluntary repatriation, resettlement and integration.
Your support helps us to create a safer, more stable world for those who need it most.
Voluntary repatriation may be one solution for refugees who have made the brave decision to return home. Together with the country of origin and international community, UNHCR strives to facilitate their choice through ‘go-and-see’ visits, education, legal aid, and family reunification. Our efforts have helped hundreds of thousands of people to return home to countries like Angola and Somalia.
For those who cannot return, either because of continued conflict, wars or persecution, resettlement in another country is one alternative. To aid this process, we provide cultural orientation, language and vocational training, as well as access to education and employment. However, of the 20.4 million refugees of concern to UNHCR around the world, less than one per cent is submitted for resettlement.
Another alternative for those who are unable to return home is integration within the host community. This is often a complex process which places considerable demands on both the individual and the receiving society. However, it also has benefits, allowing refugees to contribute socially and economically. Over the past decade, 1.1 million refugees around the world have become citizens in their country of asylum.