Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has cut aid to refugees from Ukraine. Under a new decree, only about half of Ukraine’s regions are affected by the fighting. Some people are forced to leave their accommodation as a result.
Private refugee shelters have already begun deporting Ukrainians, the Migration Aid organization said Wednesday. In Kocs, north of Budapest, about 120 refugees were forced to leave a guesthouse under police surveillance. Among them are Roma women and children from the western Ukrainian region of Transcarpathia, where a large Hungarian minority lives.
“We can’t go anywhere”
“We are in a hopeless situation because we have nowhere to go,” said mother of five Marina Amit, who fled to Hungary last year. She fears her 17-year-old son could be drafted into the army if he returns to Ukraine.
According to the UN refugee agency UNHCR, 2,000 to 3,000 Ukrainians in Hungary could lose their state-sponsored accommodation. They are also threatened with losing their jobs and places in schools. The government should reconsider its policies.
New decree since Wednesday
The procedure is based on a decree that came into effect on Wednesday. It limits aid to refugees from Ukraine if they come from parts of the country considered untouched by the war. Government representative Norbert Pal described the arrangement as “sensible and appropriate.” Those who wanted to “get back on their feet” in Hungary “had enough chances in two and a half years.”
Hungary has already taken in fewer war refugees than other countries in the region. According to UNHCR, a total of around 46,000 Ukrainians have applied for protection status in the country. The head of government rejects arms shipments. Orbán is the only head of government in the EU who still maintains close ties with the Kremlin.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
