As the gap between global refugee resettlement needs and available places continues to grow, the Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) has joined refugee leaders, governments, UNHCR, NGOs, academics and private sector representatives in Geneva this week for the annual Consultations on Resettlement and Complementary Pathways (CRCP).
This global forum brings together key voices to discuss how to better protect refugees through resettlement and other safe pathways.
According to the UNHCR Projected Global Resettlement Needs Report for 2026, an estimated 2.5 million refugees will be in urgent need of resettlement next year. While this figure represents a slight decline from 2025, there are still critical needs, especially as the world’s largest resettlement program in the United States remains suspended.
While the political situation in Syria has changed, many Syrians still cannot return home safely and remain the second largest group in need of resettlement. At the same time, the number of Afghans needing resettlement has grown significantly — they are now the largest refugee population in need of support.
The report estimates that resettlement needs from Africa account for 38% of the global need, which further underscores the importance for Australia to increase its intake from the region.
Resettlement needs for South Sudan, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo are rapidly increasing. The prolonged conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has led to one of the largest internal displacement crises globally, with an escalation of fighting in the eastern part of the country and 7.4 million people being forced to flee by the end of 2024.
Similarly, the need for durable solutions for Sudanese refugees has risen by 30% in just one year, driven by the ongoing conflict that has displaced 14.3 million people both within and beyond Sudan’s borders.
Joining RCOA at the consultations is Wollongong-based Jeanne Mutarutwa, a member of the stateless Banyamulenge community from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Congolese refugees are among the top ten groups prioritised for resettlement in 2026.
Jeanne is sharing her story to highlight the challenges faced by minority and stateless communities, especially women, who often experience additional barriers to protection, such as lack of literacy in their own language and being excluded from decision making.
“People with lived experience can bring insight that policies alone can’t capture. I’m here to speak for communities like mine and to encourage solutions that are grounded in dignity and real understanding.”
UNHCR is urging small and medium-sized states to do more to meet the global goal of resettling at least 120,000 refugees in 2026. At the 2023 Global Refugee Forum, the Australian Government committed to gradually expand its Refugee and Humanitarian Program and to increase complementary pathways to 10,000 places.
Meeting these pledges will require a strategic, inclusive approach. As part of the CRCP discussions, RCOA is calling on the Australian Government to strengthen its resettlement commitment by making complementary pathways additional to the core Humanitarian Program. These initiatives can provide vital protection to those in need.
RCOA Senior Policy Advisor, Dr Louise Olliff, says resettlement is a vital tool for the most at-risk refugees.
“Those who cannot go home face extreme vulnerability where they are. It’s also a tangible expression of global responsibility sharing. While the number of people needing resettlement is considerable – over two million – the number of actual places offered is nowhere near sufficient.
“Australia has an opportunity to lead, not only by ensuring our 20,000 Humanitarian Program places are used strategically, but by building stronger pathways for community led sponsorship and other safe routes. This isn’t just about numbers; it’s about giving people a future and supporting the countries that have opened their doors to refugees for years, often with far fewer resources than we have.”
RCOA is also supporting the participation of Craig Foster, former Socceroo and prominent refugee advocate, who will be highlighting the situation of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, one of the ten countries with the greatest resettlement needs next year.