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As the war in Ukraine enters its third year, UNHCR and 30 partner organizations appeal for USD 42.2 million to support Ukrainian refugees in Hungary in . Over 90 representatives from Government, Non-Governmental Organizations, Refugee-led organizations and UN gathered at Petofi Museum in Budapest to launch the 2024 Refugee Response Plan in the country. The Refugee Response Plan 2024 – Hungary Chapter is part of a Regional Refugee Response Plan 2024, which was launched in Geneva on 15 January this year.
Tens of thousands of Ukrainians have found safety in Hungary since the war broke out on 24 February 2022. More than 41,000 of them have applied for Temporary Protection. As the war continues and despite the generous and continued assistance provided by the Hungarian Government, volunteers, and civil society organizations alike, essential needs remain.
For these services to remain open and ensure the most vulnerable can continue to live in safety and dignity, continued international solidarity is crucial. The amount will allow partners to continue their collective efforts to provide essential services and ensure the most vulnerable receive targeted assistance.
“Even though we would like the fighting to end as soon as possible, as the war drags on, apart from providing immediate assistance we had to also focus on creating all conditions of enabling mid-term stay in Hungary for those with Temporary Protection statuses,” said Norbert Pal, Government Commissioner for Persons Fleeing the Russian-Ukrainian War to Hungary. “This included the setting-up of the system of longer-term accommodation, and the provision of access for them to education, health care, and the labour market.”
As time passes, the response is adapting to the evolving needs of refugees, with early-stage emergency relief being gradually replaced by longer-term solution efforts. This year, the Refugee Response Plan (RRP) in Hungary will increasingly focus on the socio-economic inclusion of refugees by providing complementary support to the Government to ensure Ukrainian refugees live in decent long-term accommodation, have access to health care, employment, education, livelihoods, and social protection. This third Refugee Response Plan (RRP) will also continue to focus on protection support to the most vulnerable refugees and look at prevention and risk mitigation mechanisms with dedicated support for child protection, protection against Gender Based Violence and trafficking, and provision of legal assistance and mental health support. Finally, efforts will continue towards fostering social cohesion.
“The organisations that are part of this year’s RRP include refugee-led organizations, national and international NGOs, faith-based organizations and charities, and UN agencies,” said Nicole Epting, UNHCR Representative for Central Europe. “The presence of six refugee-led organizations among them shows that refugees are not just recipients of aid but also active contributors to the concerted efforts to enhance the social inclusion and well-being of their fellow refugees. It is also remarkable that two out of three partners are local organizations.”
The 2024 Appeal builds upon the achievements of the previous year, during which partners assisted over 97,500 refugees in Hungary, both those who stayed in the country and those who transited Hungary. In complement to government efforts, more than 9,300 vulnerable families received cash assistance in 2013, while nearly 60,000 refugees were provided with food assistance. Over 65,600 received non-food items such as hygiene kits, clothing, blankets, and kitchen sets. Close to 50,000 Ukrainian refugees were provided with information on refugees’ rights and services available. Over 7,800 received professional and skills training, and nearly 1,900 refugees were provided with mid- to long-term housing solutions. When it comes to healthcare, over 5,600 people were supported in accessing national services, thus ensuring their physical well-being, and over 12,000 received psychosocial consultations to address their mental health needs.
In 2024, as a humanitarian community, RRP partners aim to support 85,000 refugees in Hungary.
The 2024 RRP partners in Hungary are:
Cordelia Foundation for the Rehabilitation of Torture Victims; Dévai Fogadó (formerly Mandák Ház); Food Bank Aid Foundation Budapest; Foundation of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church; Helping Coalition Foundation; Hungarian Baptist Aid; Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta; Hungarian Helsinki Committee; Hungarian Interchurch Aid; Hungarian Red Cross; Hungarian Reformed Church Aid; International Organization for Migration; International Rescue Committee; Lexis-Vamos Foundation; Litera Egyesület; MedSpot Foundation; Menedék Hungarian Association for Migrants; Migration Aid; Next Step Hungary Association; Parasolka; Piarist High School; Pressley Ridge Hungary Foundation; Pszi Pont; Refugee Help Digital Network; Terre des Hommes Foundation; The Foundation for Global Dignity; United Nations Children’s Fund; United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization; United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees; United Way Hungary; World Health Organization.
Refugee Response Plan 2024:
The 2024 Regional Refugee Response Plan for Ukraine can be found here in English.
The 2024 RRP – Hungary chapter can be found here in English and here in Hungarian.
Media Contacts:
Erno Simon, UNHCR Spokesperson in Hungary – [email protected], +36 30 657 03 23
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