Hungary is prepared to lend assistance to the most vulnerable among the migrants – such as families, minors without guardians and disabled people – but it had to make these investments with its own resources, without any support from the European Union, Minister of State for Social Affairs and Inclusion Károly Czibere said at a press conference in the Röszke transit zone.
Mr. Czibere said that in the past 12 months the Hungarian government has spent HUF 700 million (EUR 2.25 million) on improving conditions for minors arriving without guardians. The capacity of the reception centre in Fót has been increased from 34 to 200, the number of foster care personnel has also been significantly increased and processing times have been reduced, he said.
He pointed out that last year 8,804 minors arrived in Hungary without guardians, almost exclusively boys, 90 percent of them Afghans and mostly over the age of 16. This year so far a few hundred children have arrived, only few of them younger than 10 and 14, respectively. Of those who arrived last year, only 70 stayed in Hungary, while the rest have left the reception centre within 24 to 48 hours.
Mr. Czibere said that last year Hungary applied for grants from the EU’s refugee fund for developments aimed at improving the assistance of the most vulnerable migrants amounting to HUF 3.5 billion, but the application was rejected by the EU on the grounds that there was no migrant crisis in Hungary.
“Unlike many other European countries, Hungary has been observing EU regulations, it is protecting Europe’s Schengen borders and it conducts proper controls and separates genuine refugees from economic migrants. Furthermore, Hungary also supports asylum seekers actively and well beyond its means” – the Minister of State stressed.
He added that the Government has decided to grant the five member organisations of the Charity Council HUF 50 million each, primarily to support their efforts to handle crisis situations in the border regions.
Regional leader of the Hungarian Maltese Aid Pál Csonka said that they provide healthcare assistance two days a week for the migrants who are waiting to submit their asylum requests at the Röszke and Tompa transit zones. They also distribute hygiene packs as well as milk and food for children.
The video of the event is available in the Press Room.