A new refugee camp has been opened in Hungary at the beginning of this month in Körmend, and the government is planning to open another one in Szentgotthárd. Both are close to the Austrian border. This move follows the mid-March announcement in the Hungarian Parliament by Fidesz politician Lájos Kosa that Hungary will close all refugee camps and detention centers in the country, and will instead rely on these two new camps. In the last days, more and more people are being transported to these two camps which are declared temporary camps and are located close to the Austrian border. Both are designed to host approximately 300 people each. The facilities, especially in terms of heating, that these camps will provide can be described as nowhere close to the already bad quality in the other camps. They are designed not to shelter refugees for a prolonged time. The tent-structure of the camp points towards an intention of the government that has long become visible - to make sure no refugees try to stay in Hungary.
Hungary seems to pursue a threefold strategy. First, the much reported erection of fences to its neighboring countries and massive border controls are supposed to create an impression that it’s vital for the country’s security to seal Hungary off and prevent refugees from entering Hungarian territory. Second, it deals with the refugees that have managed to enter Hungarian territory by changing its asylum laws frequently and worsening conditions for refugees in the country, consequently inciting refugees to move on and not stay in Hungary. Third, it seems to create the conditions for fast transit of refugees out of Hungary and into Austria. The plan to hastily construct tent-camps on the border to Austria falls within the last two of categories. It is an integral part of the strategy of the Hungarian government to rid the country of what it seems to perceive as a mortal threat to its values, and what some would perceive as human beings asking for protection in an EU-country. The consequences of such a “Great Wall Operation” strategy are not only political but have very serious negative effects on the conditions that refugees can expect to face when entering and staying in Hungary.
Hungary seems to pursue a threefold strategy. First, the much reported erection of fences to its neighboring countries and massive border controls are supposed to create an impression that it’s vital for the country’s security to seal Hungary off and prevent refugees from entering Hungarian territory. Second, it deals with the refugees that have managed to enter Hungarian territory by changing its asylum laws frequently and worsening conditions for refugees in the country, consequently inciting refugees to move on and not stay in Hungary. Third, it seems to create the conditions for fast transit of refugees out of Hungary and into Austria. The plan to hastily construct tent-camps on the border to Austria falls within the last two of categories. It is an integral part of the strategy of the Hungarian government to rid the country of what it seems to perceive as a mortal threat to its values, and what some would perceive as human beings asking for protection in an EU-country. The consequences of such a “Great Wall Operation” strategy are not only political but have very serious negative effects on the conditions that refugees can expect to face when entering and staying in Hungary.
Politically, the erection of camps close to the Austrian border points towards preparations by the Hungarian government for potentially more people arriving in Hungary this summer. Interestingly, while the Austrian government is doing all it can to prevent people from coming to Austria - see the changes it has made to Austrian asylum law, making it one of the toughest in Europe and allowing it to reject asylum applicants already at the border - the Hungarian government seems to be implementing an unofficial strategy of encouraging all those refugees that have made it to Hungary to move on as quickly as possible. The mutually hostile attitude by the Austrian and the Hungarian governments towards people in extreme need will turn out to worsen the conditions for the refugees themselves in Austria and in Hungary.
In preparation for the refugees arriving in Körmend, the stores in the small town have reportedly been bought out of their supplies of pepper spray by the local population. Xenophobia seems flying high with the locals of the town. A local in Körmend told 24.hu that she would be ready to “shoot migrants if she had to defend her life,” having bought a gas pistol for her defense.
While xenophobia is on the rise in Körmend, as in the rest of the country, the planned structures of the camps are very concerning too. While the official number of people residing in open camps in Hungary is reported to be ca. 1700 , the two new camps together are designed to host between 600 and 700 people. With the announcement of the government to close down all other remaining camps and to move people residing in those to the two new camps in Körmend and Szentgotthárd, we ask ourselves: where will all the people fit? Where will they go? The tent-camps may fit well into the “Great Wall Operation” strategy of the government, but they simultaneously will mean: overcrowded, insufficiently equipped and, in the last instance, inhuman camps for people in dire need of international protection who intend to merely live a decent life.
In preparation for the refugees arriving in Körmend, the stores in the small town have reportedly been bought out of their supplies of pepper spray by the local population. Xenophobia seems flying high with the locals of the town. A local in Körmend told 24.hu that she would be ready to “shoot migrants if she had to defend her life,” having bought a gas pistol for her defense.
While xenophobia is on the rise in Körmend, as in the rest of the country, the planned structures of the camps are very concerning too. While the official number of people residing in open camps in Hungary is reported to be ca. 1700 , the two new camps together are designed to host between 600 and 700 people. With the announcement of the government to close down all other remaining camps and to move people residing in those to the two new camps in Körmend and Szentgotthárd, we ask ourselves: where will all the people fit? Where will they go? The tent-camps may fit well into the “Great Wall Operation” strategy of the government, but they simultaneously will mean: overcrowded, insufficiently equipped and, in the last instance, inhuman camps for people in dire need of international protection who intend to merely live a decent life.
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