Hungary intends to relocate numerous Ukrainians onto the public streets.
In Hungary, a recent ordinance goes into force: Ukrainian refugees hailing from regions deemed secure by Budapest will no longer be entitled to aid. This development could potentially leave thousands of refugees without their dwellings. The Hungarian administration justifies this regulation, asserting that Ukrainians have had ample time to assimilate.
Migrant Aid, an organization, reports that some private refugee shelters have commenced evicting Ukrainians. This happened in Kocs, north of Budapest, where approximately 120 refugees were pushed out of a guesthouse under police surveillance. A majority of these refugees were Roma women and children from Transcarpathia, a Ukrainian region with a significant Hungarian minority. Marina Amit, a mother of five, who fled to Hungary last year, voiced her concerns, stating, "We're in a desperate situation as we have nowhere to go." Fearful of returning, she fears that her 17-year-old son might be conscripted into the Ukrainian army.
This action is a consequence of a decree enacted on June 2023, signed by Prime Minister Viktor Orban. This decree curtails support for refugees from Ukraine hailing from regions unaffected by the Russian conflict. The Hungarian government indicates that only approximately 13 Ukrainian regions have experienced conflict.
Government: Sufficient Time to Regain Stability
Hungarian government commissioner Norbert Pal defended the new rule as "justifible and proportionate." He claimed that those wishing to "rebuild their lives in Hungary" had had sufficient opportunity to accomplish this over the past two and a half years.
The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) forecasts that between 2,000 and 3,000 Ukrainian refugees in Hungary could lose their state-funded accommodation due to this decree. The UNHCR expressed concerns this week, stating that the new regulation could lead to job losses and adversely impact Ukrainian refugee children's education, possibly undermining the progress made so far in integration. They urged the Budapest government to reconsider their policy.
Orban shares close ties with Moscow despite Russia's invasion of Ukraine. He is against delivering weapons to Ukraine's neighboring country. Hungary has taken in fewer Ukrainian war refugees than other neighboring countries. As per the UNHCR, approximately 46,000 Ukrainians have applied for protection in Hungary.
The UNHCR strongly discouraged the Hungarian government, following their announcement by commissioner Norbert Pal, as this new rule could lead to job losses and negatively impact the education of Ukrainian refugee children, potentially reversing integration progress. The President of the European Parliament, expressing concern, emphasized the importance of upholding human rights and protecting vulnerable groups, including refugees.
