Many refugees cannot go home due to the persevering conflict, persecution, and lack of security.
Many live in unfavorable situations or have specific needs that cannot be addressed in the country where they have initially sought asylum.
The interests and protection of refugees are the guiding principles for transferring them from an asylum country to another State. In such circumstances, UNHCR helps resettle refugees to another State that has agreed to admit them as refugees. Resettlement is a second chance refugees are given for a new life.
However, resettlement is not a right, and there is no obligation on States to accept refugees through resettlement. Yet, it is a tool to provide international protection and it can be a tangible expression of international solidarity and burden-sharing among states that addresses the protection needs for many vulnerable refugees.
UNHCR Iran makes efforts to encourage resettlement countries to protect vulnerable refugees and support host countries in guaranteeing more sustainable solutions for refugees. However, the Resettlement quota for Iran has been on the decline over the past few years. Due to emerging emergencies around the world, several resettlement countries have recently reduced their quota for Afghan refugees or have completely closed the resettlement of Afghan refugees from Iran.
Number of refugees resettled to third countries from Iran:
A total of 1,255 individuals departed in 2014 compared to 788 in 2016 and 515 in 2017, 535 in 2018 and 564 by the end of the third quarter of 2019.