New York, NY, October 28, 2024 — The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is pleased to announce a significant milestone in the journey of our pioneering Virtual Reception and Placement (VR&P) program. Since its inception in March 2024, the VR&P program has broadened the scope of U.S. refugee resettlement services by providing resettlement support through virtual means, complementing existing in-person efforts. This initiative enhances the overall capacity of the resettlement network, offering vital support to refugees and Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders who face logistical and geographical barriers in accessing services. To date, IRC has successfully assisted 2,299 new arrivals through VR&P, demonstrating both the increasing demand for virtual services and the program's ability to rapidly scale up in response to the needs of refugees.
The success of the VR&P program has also contributed to the broader U.S. resettlement efforts to welcome 100,034 refugees and 31,072 SIV holders in fiscal year 2024—the highest number in three decades. This achievement is a testament to the dedication and hard work of the entire refugee resettlement network, including our 29 IRC program offices across the nation. This accomplishment would not have been possible without the crucial support provided by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, as well as the dedicated assistance of refugees' friends and families in the United States.
Hans Van de Weerd, Senior Vice President of Resettlement, Asylum, and Integration at the International Rescue Committee, said:
“The Virtual Reception and Placement (VR&P) program is a key innovation that meets the needs of today’s U.S. resettlement program and complements traditional resettlement programs across the nation. During the first few months of the program, more than 4,000 refugees and SIVs who may have otherwise faced barriers to service were provided with assistance in rebuilding their lives in America. IRC provided assistance to more than 2,000 of these people.
“Globally, there are over 120 million people displaced – a number that has doubled in the past ten years. Continued bold innovations like VR&P will allow for the U.S. resettlement program to meet the needs of this critical moment.”
Sarah Cross, Deputy Assistant Secretary for U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, said:
“PRM welcomes this partnership to re-design Reception and Placement and re-imagine our approach to resettlement. As we face unprecedented levels of displacement worldwide, virtual R&P has been instrumental in building U.S. capacity to provide refuge to those who are fleeing persecution and violence.”
As we celebrate this milestone, we are reminded of the power of innovation and the impact of collaboration in addressing complex humanitarian challenges. The IRC remains committed to delivering quality case management and support for refugees through virtual services in the coming year.