Special edition: Finding a place for refugees to call home

When someone becomes a refugee, they are often displaced for a long time, unable to return home due to war or fear of persecution. We work with governments and the international community to find long-term solutions so refugees can find a place to call home. For a very small fraction of refugees, this can include resettlement in a third country.

Welcome to "Humanitarians at Work", UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency's biweekly newsletter where we share motivations, challenges and advice from staff working in the humanitarian sector. If you would like an exclusive sneak peek into the lives of humanitarian workers and tips on how to get started in the sector, please subscribe.

On World Refugee Day, we’re putting a spotlight on solidarity and solutions. Resettlement is just one of the many solutions refugees need, as more people are displaced now than at any time in history. In this edition, we are excited to introduce you to Pipina Katsari, Associate Resettlement and Complementary Pathways Officer, at UNHCR’s office in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Pipina shares her insights and experiences and offers valuable advice for those considering a career in humanitarian work. She also talks about the moments that inspire her, what she loves about her job and gives us a glimpse into her daily routine and the reality on the ground.

Growing up, my family’s nomadic lifestyle took us across Greece, the USA and Belgium thanks to my father’s military career. These frequent moves showed me that we discover shared interests and dreams if we approach others with an open mind, regardless of their background. We can give, take and create beautiful connections.

Having a strong sense of justice and an impulse to protect people in a vulnerable position, I studied law, specializing in criminal law and human rights. My career began by focusing on monitoring war crimes and other sensitive trials and rebuilding justice systems in conflict-ravaged places like Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Libya and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Moving into the field of refugee protection, I joined the protection team of UNHCR in Greece at the time of the Syrian refugee emergency on Samos island at the sea border between Greece and Türkiye, subsequently becoming the Head of the Field Office. I then had the opportunity to support refugees in Chad and advocate for resettlement as a durable solution for refugees in the DRC. 

Being on the ground, you can feel at your core the consequences of war and failed diplomacy in a tightly interconnected world. You can sense the fear of the “other” and listen to heartbreaking stories. But you also see the dynamism and resilience of those forced to flee their homes, and you draw strength to continue and help them showcase this.

Heading the Resettlement Unit in DRC, I oversee the system of identification and processing of refugee cases for resettlement. I cooperate daily with colleagues working in the remote parts of this vast country where most refugees stay - in camps, sites or urban settings. I listen, guide, troubleshoot and provide support and methodological tools to the teams, to best prepare cases of refugees with serious vulnerabilities. This includes survivors of violence and torture, women and children at risk and people with disabilities or medical conditions, for whom local integration into DRC or voluntary repatriation to their home countries is not possible. 

A regular responsibility I have is reviewing Resettlement Registration Forms (RRFs), before submitting them for examination to resettlement countries, namely those states which have agreed to admit refugees and ultimately grant them permanent residence and protection. In parallel, I interview refugees to determine if they are eligible for resettlement and prepare the files for the submission of their case, ensuring that their life experiences, needs and capabilities are well presented.  

When resettlement countries organize missions to the DRC to interview refugees whose cases have been submitted for resettlement, I am responsible for the coordination and logistical support to enable these interviews. Recently, a mission was organized to bring almost 650 refugees from over 10 border locations across the country to Kinshasa, the capital of the DRC, to be interviewed by the US authorities. The preparation for this was impressive, taking into account the security situation and the lack of suitable roads, airstrips and regular flights in most parts of the country. 

Logistics, security and stretched resources.

In the DRC, reaching refugees in remote areas where roads are flooded and often impassable, combined with serious security concerns and limited internet connectivity, requires persistence, patience, good planning and close collaboration.

Resources are stretched, as staff wear multiple hats and juggle numerous priorities, so encouragement and good organizational skills are essential.  

Another challenge is to ensure that stakeholders who are not on the ground, understand and appreciate the practical context and provide support according to the needs.

I certainly have these unique moments when I think to myself: “I loooove my job!”. 

The most fulfilling moments are when we witness the departure of refugees to the resettlement country. Recently, a family of 5 Burundian refugees departed for the USA. It was particularly important that a little boy in the family could be treated for a serious skin disease he was born with. His older sister unfortunately passed from the same condition last year. The urgent processing succeeded and the family found their new home, where the little boy could receive suitable treatment and have a good quality of life.

Above all, you need passion and commitment! Having analytical thinking skills and being solution-oriented are essential in the field of resettlement. Understanding the problems well, listening and asking the right questions leads to the most appropriate potential solutions. You need to be resourceful and have good coordination and communication skills. Working in a team and recognizing the team’s efforts is also key.

When it comes to qualities, curiosity and thinking outside the box make a big difference in humanitarian response. You will also need empathy and respect, and you will need to act with integrity at all times. Some other qualities worth developing are resilience and learning to navigate being overwhelmed.

You need to be prepared for field work in order to be close to the people we advocate for. Deploying on the ground or visiting the field every chance you get, enables you to see, smell, hear and feel the situation. This allows a humanitarian to gain a better understanding of the complexities and also to hear about the solutions needed directly from the people affected.

It also means being prepared to be far from loved ones for a while.

Meeting with friends and colleagues who have become friends, dancing, exercising and traveling, especially close to a beach and the sea, helps me recharge. I seek to discover the countries in which I reside and have as many new experiences as possible!  

The UNHCR Resettlement Handbook was fully revised in 2023 and is accessible online, offering guidance to all UNHCR staff, partners and resettlement countries. 

I enjoy a wide range of podcasts, such as The New Humanitarian, and Ted Talks covering an array of subjects, including conflict and conflict resolution, the economy, the environment and sustainability, integration and societal dialogue about how to have difficult conversations. 

I also follow social media for discussions on hot topics by leading professionals in my field. I try to go out of my comfort zone too, consciously trying to hear views that I may not agree with to better understand the world around me. 

Following the Humanitarians at Work newsletter also provides me with new perspectives from colleagues around the globe and brings much-welcome motivation!

🤔 Your thoughts? Let us know in the comments below what surprised you the most about Pipina's role as an Associate Resettlement and Complimentary Pathways Officer or if you have any questions about this role.

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is a global organization dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for people forced to flee their homes because of conflict and persecution. Together with over 20,000 staff working around the world, we strive for a world where every person forced to flee can build a better future.

📩 Stay inspired by stories like Pipina's and join us in our mission to make a difference by subscribing.

See you in your inbox in two weeks,

Kasia Popiolek (UNHCR Social Media Team)