UNHCR Projects 2.5 Million Refugees Will Need Resettlement in 2026 Amid Declining Quotas

UNHCR Projects 2.5 Million Refugees Will Need Resettlement in 2026 Amid Declining Quotas
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The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has projected that approximately 2.5 million refugees will require resettlement in 2026, Anadolu Agency revealed citing a report released on Tuesday. This figure is a decrease from the estimated 2.9 million refugees needing resettlement in 2025, largely due to voluntary returns by Syrian refugees.

UNHCR spokesperson Shabia Mantoo explained that some refugees are choosing to return home to rebuild rather than pursue resettlement. The highest resettlement needs are expected among Afghan (573,400), Syrian (442,400), South Sudanese (258,200), Sudanese (246,800), Rohingya (233,300), and Congolese (179,500) refugees. Countries hosting the most refugees requiring resettlement support include Iran, Türkiye, Pakistan, Ethiopia, and Uganda.

Mantoo emphasized that resettlement offers a vital alternative to dangerous migration routes and reflects international solidarity. However, she warned that global resettlement quotas for 2025 are projected to fall to their lowest level in two decades, risking setbacks in refugee protection efforts. UNHCR called on resettlement states to increase commitments and adopt more flexible, responsive programs. The agency aims to resettle 120,000 refugees in 2026.