To date, the total number of refugees entering Hungary from Ukraine or Romania to escape the war is 597,453. Out of these, 15,231 have applied for asylum and 97,139 have received temporary residence permits. Meanwhile, 9,571 people — 5,253 of whom are children — have been accommodated in designated shelters, and emergency services, with the assistance of other public institutions and NGOs, have provided accommodation for a further 16,947 people.
The government is coordinating the collection and delivery of humanitarian aid, as well as the work of domestic aid agencies, through the National Humanitarian Coordination Council. So far, a total of 293,642 people fleeing the war have registered with charitable organizations at the various Help Points or railway stations. The six major charities involved have received HUF 500 million each, totaling HUF 3 billion in special government funding.
The government has also set up the Bridge for Transcarpathia coalition, under which donations by telephone and bank transfer have exceeded HUF 995 million.
On March 21, the Humanitarian Transit Point was opened in the BOK Sports and Conference Center. It is open 24/7 and has assisted 20,979 refugees so far with meals, medical care, sanitation and travel arrangements. For those people traveling on, dedicated buses transport them to train stations or the airport, while those staying are receiving help to secure accommodation. Information is available 24 hours a day in Hungarian, Ukrainian and English.
The Hungarian State Railways is also offering free travel to refugees from Ukraine, with 239,491 so-called solidarity tickets already issued. In coordination with the National Directorate General for Disaster Management, the Hungarian public transport company Volánbusz is also providing buses to transport refugees from Ukraine.
As for healthcare, medical care and prescription medicines for refugees are being provided. Hungary is able to offer hospital beds for more than 600 children and around 1,100 adults without compromising the care of Hungarian patients. Furthermore, we are caring for wounded Ukrainian soldiers, plus a free telephone number is available to request medical care for children.
Regarding education, the government is providing schooling for the children of war refugees. As of this week, 308 kindergarten children (including 109 Hungarian citizens) and 1,189 schoolchildren (575 Hungarian citizens) have been placed in Hungarian schools and kindergartens. High-school graduation exams will also be available to students coming from Ukraine, and hundreds of university students have been integrated into the Hungarian higher education system. In addition, under the Students at Risk program, 1,000 young people can pursue higher education as Stipendium Hungaricum grantees.
On the employment front, even before the conflict, Ukrainian citizens were allowed to work in Hungary on a facilitated basis, in 128 in-demand jobs published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Since the outbreak of the war, companies have been eligible to receive subsidies if they employ workers claiming asylum status.
The Hungarian state has already provided more than HUF 2 billion in aid to tackle the humanitarian crisis on the other side of the border as well. This has been done partially under the Hungary Helps program to help local communities in the Transcarpathian region and internally displaced persons in Transcarpathia with HUF 1.35 billion, but aid has also been sent to inner Ukraine. In addition, Hungary has sent HUF 600 million worth of aid and disaster relief equipment, and various charities also continue to deliver aid to Ukraine.
Hungary is continuously sending donations to Ukraine, from medical equipment to fuel and organized at both the EU and national levels. Aid provided so far by Hungary — i.e., support to charities; humanitarian aid; and health, education, social and transport services — totals HUF 17 billion.