Waiting for Resettlement: Insights from Rwandan Refugee Camps The Psychosocial Impact of Prolonged Uncertainty

Abstract

Resettlement serves as a protection mechanism and a durable solution for refugees. While research has explored various dimensions of resettlement, the lived experiences of navigating identification and selection processes remain insufficiently examined. Rwanda, a key first-asylum country and strategic partner in UNHCR’s resettlement efforts, provides a fruitful case to explore these processes. Fieldwork conducted in February 2025 employed a qualitative mixed-methods approach, generating insights from refugees and the UNHCR office in Kigali. The research focused on the psychosocial impact of prolonged uncertainty throughout the resettlement process and the dynamics of communication between UNHCR, resettlement states, and refugees. Refugees view resettlement as a rare opportunity to secure rights, dignity, and prospects, yet the extended uncertainty and limited access to information generate feelings of dependency and mistrust. The findings reveal a persistent gap between the formal procedures formulated by the UNHCR and the refugees’ lived realities.