KATHMANDU , Nepal ( CNN ) -- Bhutanese refugees began arriving in the United States on Tuesday , the first wave of what the United Nations describes as one of the world 's largest resettlement efforts . The U.S. has offered to resettle 60,000 of the estimated 107,000 Bhutanese refugees of Nepalese origin now living in seven U.N. camps in southeastern Nepal -- their home for the past 17 years . Six other nations -- Australia , Canada , Norway , Netherlands , New Zealand and Denmark -- have offered to resettle 10,000 each . `` Once they arrive , they will be sent to different cities around the U.S. , '' said David Derthick , a spokesman for the International Organization for Migration , which is screening and transporting the refugees . The first group , arriving throughout the week , includes 121 refugees . They are being sent to New York ; Chicago , Illinois ; Syracuse , New York ; St. Louis , Missouri ; and other cities , the International Organization for Migration said . The United Nations said several families had arrived in New York as of Tuesday , and more are en route to locations in Texas , Arizona and Maryland . So far , however , only about 25,000 of the refugees have registered for resettlement , according to the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Web site , and not many more than 10,000 are expected to leave Nepal by the end of the year . Bhutan , wedged between China and India , is a Buddhist kingdom about half the size of the U.S. state of Indiana . It 's considered one of the world 's most isolated countries and the government strictly regulates foreign influences , including tourism , to preserve the country 's Buddhist culture . See Bhutan on a map » . The country had no electricity , paved roads , cars , telephones or postal service until the 1960s . It allowed access to television and the Internet only in 1999 . Bhutan stripped the minority ethnic Nepalis of their citizenship and forced them into exile in the early 1990s , allegedly in an attempt to ensure a homogenous culture , according to the independent , nongovernmental group Human Rights Watch . Many of the Nepalis have taken up arms and joined with violent Maoist rebels , the group said . The refugees claim they were forced to leave Bhutan by security forces , but Bhutan has disputed whether all are truly refugees . Some 15 rounds of talks between Nepal and Bhutan have failed to resolve the issue . The United States ' resettlement plan has divided the refugee community , as members disagree over whether it is best to resettle in the United States or hang onto hopes of returning to Bhutan . A report posted on the UNHCR Web site quotes refugees who have chosen to go to the United States . `` We chose to resettle because there was no other outlet , '' said refugee Jay Narayan Adhikari . `` Talks between Nepal and Bhutan have produced no results . '' `` Everyone says 'America , America , America , ' but I do n't know much about it , '' said his wife , Sita , according to the U.N. report . `` It 's only for the sake of the children that we are ready to go . '' Nearby , the Bajgai family was separating because of its large size . Three children were leaving first , to be joined by the others later , the report said . Two of the daughters were crying as they packed their bags , but their mother told them : `` Why are you crying ? We have nothing here anyway . We will join you soon . Our future will be brighter there . '' Of the 25,000 who have registered for resettlement , more than 12,000 names have been submitted for consideration for host countries , mainly the United States , the UNHCR said . More refugees are expected to register after they hear how those in the first group have been integrated into new homes , it said . Bhutan became the world 's newest democracy on Monday when an election ended more than 100 years of royal rule in the South Asian nation . Watch Bhutanese line up to vote » . Officials in Bhutan declared the first elections in the Himalayan kingdom a resounding success . Officials said 79.4 percent of the country 's 318,465 registered voters went to the polls -- a surprisingly large turnout for a populace that had largely said they preferred to remain under the rule of their revered king . But many Bhutanese changed their minds after former King Jigme Singye Wangchuck went around the country pitching his case for the elections . E-mail to a friend . CNN 's Manesh Shrestha contributed to this report .
First group , 121 refugees , arrives to resettle in New York , Chicago , other cities . U.S. has agreed to take 60,000 refugees ; six other nations taking 10,000 each . Refugees are ethnic Nepalis who were forced into exile , human rights group says . Some refugees do n't want to come to U.S. , still hoping to return to Bhutan .