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Ukrainian refugees in Hungary - Opportunities and limitations of short and long-term integration

letöltés

Bernát, Anikó; Tomka, Zsófia

Ukrainian refugees in Hungary - Opportunities and limitations of short and long-term integration

The refugee crisis triggered by the Russian–Ukrainian war aligns with a globally increasing migration trend. Following the record-high influx of six million new immigrants in 2022, the number of newly arrived permanent immigrants to OECD countries reached an all-time high of 6.5 million in 2023. In addition, 4.7 million Ukrainian refugees also sought asylum or settled in OECD states. The number of newly arriving refugees and asylum seekers has reached unprecedented levels worldwide, with the Ukrainian refugee crisis being only one of its many sources (OECD 2024).

Since the outbreak of the war in early 2022, a record number of refugees have arrived in Hungary as well. By October 2023, when the study’s data collection took place, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimated that approximately three million people had crossed the Ukrainian–Hungarian border, including those who arrived indirectly via Romania. The majority of these individuals stayed only briefly before continuing their journey toward Western Europe or even more distant continents. In October 2023, at the time of data collection, there were 35,000 Ukrainian refugees in Hungary holding temporary protection status, in addition to those with dual Ukrainian–Hungarian citizenship, who, due to their Hungarian nationality, are not eligible for refugee status (UNHCR 2023). There is no publicly available or regularly updated official data estimating the number of this latter group.

From a legal perspective, the Ukrainian refugee population in Hungary is sharply divided. Ukrainian citizens eligible for temporary protection—available throughout Europe—and dual citizens of Ukraine and Hungary, who are primarily ethnic Hungarians from Transcarpathia, may share many similarities in their circumstances but live under different legal frameworks in Hungary. Those with temporary protection status are entitled to financial and in-kind benefits, including access to housing under specific but varying conditions, three daily meals, free rail travel, healthcare and social services, education, and employment opportunities. The unique situation of Ukrainian refugees who also hold Hungarian citizenship stems from the clear advantages of their nationality, language skills, and social connections in Hungary. However, despite their theoretically equal rights and entitlements to the same benefits as those with temporary protection status, their higher legal status as Hungarian citizens has led to unexpected disadvantages.

A dokumentum adatai

Első szerző:Bernát, Anikó
Társszerzők:
Tomka, Zsófia
Dokumentum típusa:Book chapter
KiadóTársadalmi Riport 2024
Nyelv:HUN
ISSN szám:1216-6561 (Print), 2631-1070 (Online)
Kulcsszavak:trip2024, Ukrainian refugees, Hungary, integration

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