Author
In 2022, 2023, as well as in 2024, asylum seekers were never left without accommodation due to a shortage of places in reception centres.
Overall conditions
There is no regulation on the minimum surface area, the minimum common areas or on the minimum sanitary fittings regarding reception centres.[1] In Vámosszabadi and Balassagyarmat, residents get 3 meals per day. Minor children, pregnant women and nursing mothers receive five meals a day.[2] In Fót, UaSC receive 5 meals per day.[3] The Decree 52/2007 stipulates the amount of nutritional value that must be provided at the open reception facilities and states that religious diets are to be respected in all facilities.[4] There were no related complaints reported regarding Fót in the last years, including 2024.
In all centres, regular cleaning is arranged, and the number of toilets and showers are sufficient in all facilities during regular occupancy. There has been no concerning complaint noted by the Menedék Association regarding Fót.
Residents share rooms. Families are accommodated in family rooms. Every facility has computers, community rooms and sport fields.
There have been no problems reported regarding religious practices in Fót. Pork-free food is served, but not halal.
As none of the organisations visited Vámosszabadi or Balassagyarmat in 2024, the information on complains there are not available.
Activities in the centres
Since 2018 community activities have been mainly provided by NGOs in reception facilities. However, the number of organisations in the field has also decreased due to funding limitations. There is a community room with toys In Vámosszabadi and the internet room is accessible in both reception facilities. In spring 2021, an initiative aiming at providing Hungarian classes was proposed, but due to lack of interest by the residents it did not materialise. In 2023 and 2024, no activities were provided in neither of the two centres and no NGOs or church organisations visited the centres.
In Fót, there are a developmental teacher, psychologist and educators. They also organize leisure programs.
Once a family left the camps, the organisation developed an active relationship with them. From September until November 2021, they were present in the reception facilities on a weekly basis and organised orientation discussions and community activities. In 2022, as well as in 2023 and 2024, Menedék Association was not present in Vámosszabadi neither in Balassagyarmat shelters. The organisation has been present in Fót twice a week. The focus of the sessions continued to be on creating a sense of safe space, as well as on information transfer, orientation and school integration.
The Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) has been also present in Fót since autumn 2019. In 2020 and 2021 the organisation offered programs for the children on a weekly basis. In 2022, the organisation offered weekly Hungarian language as a foreign language classes and informal supportive conversations for unaccompanied minors. JRS continued with their activities in 2023 and 2024 as well.
In 2023, the Cordelia Foundation did not provide psychosocial services in Vámosszabadi, Balassagyarmat and Fót. In 2024, the Cordelia Foundation was present in Fót.
[1] EASO, Description of the Hungarian asylum system, May 2015, available here, 10.
[2] Information received on 25 June 2024 in the context of the authorities’ comments on this report.
[3] Information received from Menedék Association on 26 February 2025.
[4] Section 3(1a) of Decree 52/2007.