MigSzol is in a good position to have access to many sources and other groups who work in the field. We make use of this by documenting the situation in Hungary as often as possible. For this reason, we are starting a situation diary. Every other week, we will publish updates with general information about the situation at the borders and in the camps that we gather from our different sources all over the country. We hope this will provide information to other organizations elsewhere in Europe to keep up to date and serve as a reference for the conditions in Hungary.
Most importantly, see here for the information leaflet prepared by the Hungarian Helsinki committee. It is available in ten languages, and we would like to stress that the HHC is the number one source for updates on the legal situation of people on the move. We also recommend you to follow the Hungarian Helsinki Committee (@hhc_helsinki) and Migszol Csoport (@migszolcsop) on Twitter.
A steady number of people are transiting through Hungary every day
During the week in between April 22nd to 28th there were 1051 “illegal border crossings” recorded by the police into Hungary (this number does not include the people entering Hungary at the transit zones and the people crossing without being caught) and 1401 crossed into Austria (UNHCR numbers). This gives an idea of a regular flow through the country. People usually stay few days in Hungary before trying to leave.
Nagyfa closed and new camp opening in Kormend
The Office of Immigration and Nationality (OIN) held a press meeting in Körmend about the new camp and said that more than 10 000 refugees have disappeared from Hungary since they registered here. Dukai Miklós, Deputy of Ministry of the Interior, said that of the 12 000 registered asylum seekers there are 1777 people in in the open camps now, as reported on ATV.
Nagyfa camp next to the Serbian border has been closed. The new camp in Körmend next to the Austrian border opened on Monday 2nd of May. Asylum seekers are being brought from other open camps by buses. Already two of those who were brought to Körmend tried to cross to Austria and were caught on the train in Szentgotthard. They were brought back to the camp. The Hungarian extreme right party, Jobbik, is planning a demonstration against the camp on Friday, 6th of May.
Austria is planning to pass a new restrictive law for asylum seekers which will allow push backs towards Hungary. The authorities have begun to check every car arriving from Hungary on certain crossings.
Hungarian and Serbian border Update - Transit zones:
There are two tranzit zones on the Hungarian and Serbian border: Rôszke/ Horgos and Tompa/ Kelebija. These zones are the two legal entry points to enter and ask for asylum in Hungary. They have been available since their creation in September 2015, when Hungary built the fence and implemented new regulations that, among others, define Serbia as a safe third country. What has changed in the past months (since February) is that mostly families are coming to apply for asylum in the transit zones.