The United States has said it will consider recommendations, to resettle vulnerable Rohingyas, submitted by the UNHCR (the UN refugee agency). The United States announced the establishment of a resettlement program for vulnerable Rohingya refugees in collaboration with the Government of Bangladesh and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Read more: Italy contributes €3mn to UNHCR for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh This program, which will be part of the global US Refugee Admissions Program, is one element of a broader comprehensive response to the Rohingya refugee crisis with the main focus on preparing the Rohingyas for voluntary, safe, dignified, and sustainable return to their homeland in Myanmar, said the US Embassy in Dhaka on Thursday. “The United States is proud of our long-standing support for displaced Rohingya, who have suffered genocide and crimes against humanity at the hands of Burma’s military, and we have provided more than $1.9 billion in humanitarian assistance for Rohingya refugees from Burma in Bangladesh and the region, those affected by ongoing violence in Burma, and communities hosting refugees from Burma,” said the spokesperson of the US Department of State. The United States is also supporting efforts to hold the perpetrators of the genocide and crimes against humanity against Rohingyas accountable and to ensure justice for the victims of these atrocities. Read more: More Rohingya female teachers need training for increasing literacy among their community Resettlement of the most vulnerable Rohingyas from Bangladesh reflects the United States’ long-standing leadership on refugee resettlement in the face of an unprecedented displacement crisis as record numbers of people around the world have been forced to flee war, persecution, and instability, it said. The US thanked the Government of Bangladesh for being a generous host to the Rohingya refugees and for their support of this important resettlement initiative.

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, 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. Read more: UNHCR seeks more support from international community for Rohingyas Responding to a question, he 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. UNHCR’s ROLE: Resettlement is conducted according to precise criteria established by resettlement countries. Once a country establishes the criteria for resettlement, UNHCR can provide support. Resettlement is mostly reserved for extremely vulnerable cases. It is not a visa process, meaning refugees cannot apply for resettlement. Read more: Take care of Rohingyas like Bangladesh: UNHCR to regional countries Extremely vulnerable cases identified through registration or protection activities, which meet pre-established criteria by the resettlement country, may be considered for resettlement. The final decision on the resettlement of each refugee is made by the resettlement country.