How do the richest Hungarians help Ukrainian refugees?

Lőrinc Mészáros (l), György Gattyán (m), Sándor Csányi (r) Sources: Facebook, Youtube

Since Russia launched an attack on Ukraine approximately three weeks ago, many people have fled from Ukraine to the neighbouring countries in hope of surviving or escaping the conflict.

Since Ukraine has a relatively large Hungarian population in Transcarpathia due to historical reasons, many living there have chosen Hungary as their destination, as many of them have dual citizenship.

However, not only Ukrainian Hungarians have entered the country in the past few weeks, but also people of many ethnicities, including Indians, Ukrainians, Nigerians, just to mention a few. Among some of the refugees were international students from universities.

Many simple Hungarian citizens have offered to help refugees with whatever they can give: non-perishable food, donations to charity organisations, housing or driving them to their relatives or even offering their own homes.

Magyar Hang has now collected how some of the wealthiest Hungarians have joined to help people fleeing from war-torn Ukraine.

Read alsoOutrageous: sex in exchange for a lift for women refugees

Lőrinc Mészáros

According to Forbes‘s list of the wealthiest Hungarians, he is number one with a wealth of a whopping 488.1 billion forints (~ €1.284 million).

At first, Mászáros and the companies under his name stayed idle regarding the question of helping refugees, however, lately, Opus Global Nyrt. has opened hotels under their ownership in Budapest for a month as part of aid worth 112 million forints (~ €295,000).

Magyar Hang writes that this provides accommodation to over 360 people, and the company has highlighted that they did not ask for financial support for this act from the government.

István Tiborcz

He is the owner of BDPST Zrt., a real estate company, and, according to Forbes’s list, he has a wealth of around 39 billion forints (~ €102 million).

His company has joined the initiative of the Hungarian Hotel & Restaurant Association (HH&RA) and offered to provide rooms at their D8 and Lifestyle hotels for free.

Furthermore, the company has joined the local government in Tura and Tarcal to help provide daily meals for refugees.

The online news outlet highlighted that more than 25 hotels have joined the initiation of HH&RA to provide free rooms for refugees.

Read alsoHungary’s largest hotel was opened for refugees from Ukraine

Sándor Csányi

He is the CEO of the Hungarian OTP Bank Group and the second-richest Hungarian with a wealth of nearly 468 billion forints (~ €1.232 million).

The news outlet received an answer to their question, saying that OTP Group has provided 100 million forints (€260,000) to maintain services in Ukraine and that they launched a donation campaign in-house which will collect approximately another 60 million forints (€158,000).

György Gattyán

Docler Group under the 6th-wealthiest Hungarian has sent €100,000 to two charity organisations; moreover, they also sent donations of about 10 million forints (€26,000) worth of medicine, pillows, and blankets.

Magyar Hang highlights that while they have asked over a dozen of Hungarian billionaires, only six have responded, but each of them has provided some help towards the refugees fleeing from Ukraine. However, the news portal also underlines that most of the help at and near the borders is carried out by volunteers and charity organisations and that there is a lack of direct government control and help.