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Refugees forced to scramble for food by police in Hungary Refugees forced to scramble for food by police in Hungary
(about 2 hours later)
Hungarian police are investigating a video showing police in surgical masks throwing packs of sandwiches to refugees clamouring for food at a reception centre, as the UN said it was sending emergency shelter kits to help the country cope with the numbers of new arrivals. Hungarian police are investigating a video showing police in surgical masks throwing packs of sandwiches to refugees clamouring for food at a reception centre, as the prime minister, Viktor Orbán, claimed the country was facing “a rebellion by illegal migrants”.
The footage, posted on the YouTube channel of the Austrian politician Alexander Spritzendorfer, and supposedly taken by his wife, Michaela Spritzendorfer-Ehrenhauser, is said to have been taken at a refugee camp in Röszke on Hungary’s border with Serbia, where tens of thousands of refugees have gathered.The footage, posted on the YouTube channel of the Austrian politician Alexander Spritzendorfer, and supposedly taken by his wife, Michaela Spritzendorfer-Ehrenhauser, is said to have been taken at a refugee camp in Röszke on Hungary’s border with Serbia, where tens of thousands of refugees have gathered.
Related: Refugee crisis: how does Europe solve a problem like Viktor Orbán?
Hungarian police told Reuters that they had launched an emergency inquiry into the video.Hungarian police told Reuters that they had launched an emergency inquiry into the video.
Related: Syrian refugees in Hungary: 'This is the so-called developed Europe?' Orbán defended police in remarks to reporters on Friday, claiming that refugees had rebelled against Hungarian authorities, seized railway stations and rejected registration in the past few days.
Zoltán Kovács, a spokesman for the Hungarian government, said the footage showed a detention centre where people spend only a few hours in an “optimal case”, but can also remain there for up to two days in a procedure sanctioned by the EU. “Considering that we are facing a rebellion by illegal migrants, police have done their job in a remarkable way, without using force,” he said, adding that from 15 September, when tough laws on immigration take effect, those who cross Hungary’s border illegally will be arrested.
He said: “I can see policemen who have been performing their duties for months, trying to take care of 23,000 migrants arriving continuously day by day, while there is no cooperation whatsoever on their part. I can see they are trying to maintain order among those who are unable to line up for food.” Zoltán Kovács, a spokesman for the Hungarian government, said the police in the footage were attempting to maintain order in trying circumstances.
“I can see policemen who have been performing their duties for months, trying to take care of 23,000 migrants arriving continuously day by day, while there is no cooperation whatsoever on their part. I can see they are trying to maintain order among those who are unable to line up for food,” he said.
There have been growing signs of Hungary’s inability to handle the arrival of more than 170,000 people this year, seeking sanctuary in Europe from war and poverty in the Middle East and Africa. On Thursday alone, police recorded 3,601 refugees on the border, according to official data.There have been growing signs of Hungary’s inability to handle the arrival of more than 170,000 people this year, seeking sanctuary in Europe from war and poverty in the Middle East and Africa. On Thursday alone, police recorded 3,601 refugees on the border, according to official data.
On Friday the UN refugee agency said it was sending pre-fabricated housing units for 300 families to Hungary to help provide temporary overnight shelter for some of the arrivals.On Friday the UN refugee agency said it was sending pre-fabricated housing units for 300 families to Hungary to help provide temporary overnight shelter for some of the arrivals.
William Spindler, spokesman for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said the agency was “closely following” the way people were being treated in the country. He said: “Obviously we expect authorities to respect rights of refugees whether they are the police or army”. The UNHCR is also sending emergency supplies for 95,000 people to the region wider region, he added.William Spindler, spokesman for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said the agency was “closely following” the way people were being treated in the country. He said: “Obviously we expect authorities to respect rights of refugees whether they are the police or army”. The UNHCR is also sending emergency supplies for 95,000 people to the region wider region, he added.
At the same briefing, Spindler welcomed an offer by the US to take at least 10,000 Syrian refugees, while saying this remained insufficient: “Of course the United States could and should do much more, but it is a step in the right direction.”At the same briefing, Spindler welcomed an offer by the US to take at least 10,000 Syrian refugees, while saying this remained insufficient: “Of course the United States could and should do much more, but it is a step in the right direction.”
Related: Syrian refugees in Hungary: 'This is the so-called developed Europe?'
Spritzendorfer-Ehrenhauser said she took the detention centre video footage while delivering sanitary supplies to refugees with the Hungarian Red Cross. “It was about 8pm and they were giving dinner to people,” she said. There were maybe 100 people trying to catch these plastic bags with sausages ... They were not able to organise a camp and treat them like human beings.”Spritzendorfer-Ehrenhauser said she took the detention centre video footage while delivering sanitary supplies to refugees with the Hungarian Red Cross. “It was about 8pm and they were giving dinner to people,” she said. There were maybe 100 people trying to catch these plastic bags with sausages ... They were not able to organise a camp and treat them like human beings.”
While the UNHCR has praised the Hungarian police’s handling of the crisis, officers have complained of being forced to work long hours in impossible conditions.While the UNHCR has praised the Hungarian police’s handling of the crisis, officers have complained of being forced to work long hours in impossible conditions.
Vincent Cochetel, the commission’s regional refugee coordinator, said: “It is not easy at the border, it was tense at the railway station and there is no quick fix because people sometimes are angry, they are sometimes aggressive, sometimes for good reason, sometimes for bad reason.”Vincent Cochetel, the commission’s regional refugee coordinator, said: “It is not easy at the border, it was tense at the railway station and there is no quick fix because people sometimes are angry, they are sometimes aggressive, sometimes for good reason, sometimes for bad reason.”
Those stranded at the Hungarian border have waited days to be registered, while conditions at makeshift frontier camps are basic. Medical care for the crowds at Budapest’s railway stations has been provided entirely by volunteers.Those stranded at the Hungarian border have waited days to be registered, while conditions at makeshift frontier camps are basic. Medical care for the crowds at Budapest’s railway stations has been provided entirely by volunteers.
Related: Refugee crisis: how does Europe solve a problem like Viktor Orbán?
The bulk of those arriving in the country are seeking to travel westwards, mainly to Austria and on to Germany to claim asylum. Thousands of people are now walking to Vienna from Austria’s main border crossing point with Hungary after rail traffic was suspended due to overcrowding.The bulk of those arriving in the country are seeking to travel westwards, mainly to Austria and on to Germany to claim asylum. Thousands of people are now walking to Vienna from Austria’s main border crossing point with Hungary after rail traffic was suspended due to overcrowding.
Austrian Federal Railways said it no longer had the capacity to deal with the thousands of people at the Nickelsdorf crossing wanting to board trains daily to the Austrian capital.Austrian Federal Railways said it no longer had the capacity to deal with the thousands of people at the Nickelsdorf crossing wanting to board trains daily to the Austrian capital.
Also on Friday, another arm of the UN warned that many more people in Syria could seek to head to Europe if there is no end to the war there. Peter Salama, Univef’s regional director for the Middle East and North Africa, said: “There could be millions and millions more refugees leaving Syria and ultimately to the European Union and beyond.”Also on Friday, another arm of the UN warned that many more people in Syria could seek to head to Europe if there is no end to the war there. Peter Salama, Univef’s regional director for the Middle East and North Africa, said: “There could be millions and millions more refugees leaving Syria and ultimately to the European Union and beyond.”