A few of my friends and colleagues – some of whom are non-Hungarian, but have lived in Hungary – have complained that the coverage of the refugee crisis paints this relatively small Central European country and Hungarian society as a whole in a decidedly negative light. As every major international news network descends upon Hungary, from the Keleti railway station in Budapest, to Röszke in the southeast or Bicske in the west, viewers across the world are learning how to pronounce the names of Hungarian towns that they never knew existed and they are seeing lots of callousness and chaos. But there are, in fact, many NGOs and grassroots community groups (none of whom are much appreciated by the current Orbán government, to say the least, and receive no support for their important work) that have shown real generosity in reaching out to refugees fleeing civil war. This week, they issued a joint statement calling on the government to finally find its humanity.
C.A.
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Hungarian volunteers associated with the group Migration Aid bring some much needed normalcy to the lives of refugee children in Budapest. Photo: Migration Aid.
The refugee crisis unfolding these days in Hungary has led to a critical situation where we feel it is our duty to speak out. The signatories urge the Hungarian government to handle the humanitarian crisis in the wake of the arrival of refugees according to basic standards of humanity, and to provide real help instead of criminalizing the refugees.
We do not wish to deny that the European asylum system is presently going through a severe crisis, nor to suggest that the key to the solution resides solely in the hands of the Hungarian government. None of the above, however, is ground for exemption from the duty of attempting to alleviate the plight of refugees. That is not a refugee issue or an immigration issue, but a basic requirement of humanity. Providing help to people in need, and doing everything we can for them – this is the moral responsibility of each and every citizen and government.
Yet, because of either inaptitude or deliberate inaction on the part of the government, a crisis has emerged in the streets and on the squares of Budapest, reaching by now the border village of Röszke as well. Handling the situation has been left for months to civil society groups and individuals sacrificing their free time, work, knowledge and money to provide assistance to their fellow human beings in need. We express our respect for and solidarity with the formal and informal civic communities that have done, with incredible determination and perseverance, that which should have been the task of the institutions of the state: to provide humane conditions for those in need.
The situation that developed in Röszke needs to be solved by the state, with the involvement of international organizations. We call on the government of Hungary to act the way a government can be expected to act in a crisis: humanely, fairly, and with due respect for human rights. Instead of criminalizing the refugees, let the government focus on alleviating their suffering and plight.
Signatory organizations:
Amnesty International Hungary
Artemisszio Foundation
Autonomia Foundation
BirthHouse Association
Carpathian Foundation-Hungary
Chance For Childen Foundation
Civil College Foundation
Clean Air Action Group
Cromo Foundation
Danube Circle
Eötvös Károly Institute
European Network Against Racism Hungary (ENAR)
Foundation for Development of Democratic Rights (DemNet)
Green Academy
Greenpeace Hungary
Habitat for Humanity Hungary
Háttér Association
Human Platform Association
Hungarian Anti-Poverty Foundation
Hungarian Civil Liberties Union
Hungarian Environmental Partnership Foundation
Hungarian Europe Society
Hungarian Helsinki Committee
Hungarian LGBT Association
Hungarian Women’s Lobby
K-Monitor
Labrisz Lesbian Association
Legal Defence Bureau for National and Ethnic Minorities
Living Memorial
Menedék – Hungarian Association for Migrants
Mertek Media Monitor
Migrants’ Help Association of Hungary (Mighelp)
Pangea Cultural and Environmental Association
Protect the Future Association
Rainbow Mission Foundation – Budapest Pride
Rehab Critical Mass
Roots and Wings Foundation
Subjective Values Foundation
Wheel of Future Foundation
With the power of humanity Foundation
Women for Balaton