UNHCR delegation in Budapest to discuss the crisis in Ukraine

A delegation of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Director General of Switzerland-based charitable international humanitarian organization Terre des Hommes, Barbara Hintermann, held talks with Deputy Mayor of Budapest Ambrus Kiss and his delegation on Wednesday, the Mayor’s Office said.

The UNHCR delegation visited the City Hall on Wednesday morning, the statement said. “UNHCR was among the first international organisations that made contact and offered cooperation after the start of Russian aggression against Ukraine,” it added.

“According to their information, around 100,000-140,000 Ukrainian refugees are currently staying in Hungary, mostly in Budapest, but very little confirmed information is received about them from official sources,” the statement said.

UNHCR continually monitors shelters provided by the city and they have received good assessment, the Mayor’s Office said. “These will be further developed in cooperation in the future,” it added.

“We will be working on jointly establishing facilities for refugees where a more comprehensive range of services will be offered,” it said.

On Wednesday afternoon, consultations were held with Hintermann, accompanied by Dorina Ardeleanu, head of operations for Europe, Asia and Latin America at Terre des hommes, the Mayor’s Office said. The organisation currently offers support at two shelters operated by the metropolitan council and they plan to expand their presence to all facilities, it added.

The Swiss organisation is also actively involved in the metropolitan council’s work to make sport safer for children.

• read also: UNHCR praises Hungary’s efforts in receiving refugees

Police: Over 11000 refugees arrive from Ukraine on Wednesday

Fully 5,490 people crossed into Hungary directly from Ukraine on Wednesday, while another 6,067 from Ukraine crossed from Romania, the national police headquarters said.

Police issued temporary residence permits valid for thirty days to 239 people, the police website said on Thursday. Holders of such permits must contact a local immigration office near their place of residence within thirty days to apply for permanent documents, it added.

Budapest police received 404 refugees, 112 children among them, by train, according to the municipal police website.

Source: MTI