The Hungarian Helsinki Committee assists refugees from Ukraine. Asylum seekers can count on us.

Since 24 February, we have continuously been on duty, doing what we are good at: providing information, free legal assistance and accessible information notes for those who have to flee Ukraine. We are also responding to questions from international organizations and the media about the current situation.

On this page we collected relevant information for people fleeing from Ukraine

Contents

I. Information on receiving protection in four languages

II. Information for Ukrainian and non-Ukrainian citizens fleeing from Ukraine

III. Information on the protection of children fleeing from Ukraine

IV. Frequently asked questions with answers

IV. Other aid organizations – if you need a different kind of help

V. Updates for partner organisations on the protection situation in Hungary

VI. What we have done since the outbreak of war

VII. This is how you can support us so that we could help as many people as possible

Информация для ищущих убежища из Украины.

Інформація для біженців із України.

Information for people fleeing from Ukraine. 

Információ az Ukrajnából menekülőknek.

Refugees from Ukraine have the right to enter Hungary. The possibilities available in Hungary depend on the refugee’s citizenship.

Information for Ukrainian citizens and their families fleeing Ukraine

This document contains useful information if you are a Ukrainian citizen, a family member of a Ukrainian citizen or if you lived in Ukraine prior to 24 February.

Információ az Ukrajnából menekülő ukrán állampolgároknak és családtagjaiknak (HU)

Information for Ukrainian citizens and their families fleeing Ukraine (EN) 

Информация для граждан Украины и членов их семей, покидающих Украину (UA)

Інформація для громадян України та членів їх сімей, які залишають Україну (RU)

Information for non-Ukrainian citizens fleeing from Ukraine

This leaflet has useful information for you if you don’t have Ukrainian nationality, but you lived in Ukraine and you had to leave Ukraine because of the war.

Information for non-Ukrainian citizens fleeing from Ukraine (EN)

Информация для спасающихся из Украины граждан не Украины (RU)

Інформація для не громадян України, що рятуються з України (UA)

Information on the protection of children fleeing from Ukraine

Millions of children have been forced to leave Ukraine since the beginning of the war. They are in a particularly vulnerable situation, which is why they require an additional measure of legal and social support.

You can read our information leaflet here or download it here!

We have gathered recurring questions that refugees from Ukraine have asked our staff and that we have not covered in our information leaflet. The document can be downloaded and distributed in Hungarian, English, Ukrainian and Russian.

Gyakran ismételt kérdések válaszokkal (HU)

Frequently asked questions with answers (EN)

ВІДПОВІДІ НА ПОШИРЕНІ ЗАПИТАННЯ (UA)

ЧАСТО ЗАДАВАЕМЫЕ ВОПРОСЫ С ОТВЕТАМИ (RU)

Cordelia Foundation provides psychological assistance with psychiatrists, psychologists, special therapists, trained interpreters and other helpers to those people fleeing Ukraine. 

Contact details: 

• cordelia@cordelia.hu
• wwwfacebook.com/cordeliafoundation
•  for Ukrainian or English speaking clients: +36-70-60-9122

Next Step Association’s ongoing mental health program is now offering free mental health support for those struggling with the recent changes imposed on them by the war waged on Ukraine. They have set up a free delivery and pick-up centre in their office in the city centre of Budapest, where all those who have fled the Ukrainian crisis are welcome to pick up essential items to make their lives easier. (food & clothes & personal hygiene)

Contact details: 

• wellbeing@nextstepeu.org
• https://forms.gle/UkMrspLLBwu3xchu9 
• pick up center:
  +36 70 323 7552
  info@nextstepeu.org

The mobile team of the Menedék Association can help with answering questions related the the following topics: residency, family reunification, applying for jobs, long term settlement, access to health care and information related to education. After a needs assessment, they can also organise programmes for children and access to psychological support. 

Contact info: Accommodation centres can apply for the free help here, while private persons providing accommodation should request help via email: menedek@menedek.hu

The Jesuit Refugee Service helps the people fleeing from Ukraine with an accommodation programme. The JRS also helps the refugee children’s access to schools by organising teaching material on Hungarian as a foreign language and by organising workshops to children. 

Contacts

• jmsz.hu
• takacs.emoke@jmsz.hu
• +36 30 459 8605

The Lutherans help the people fleeing Ukraine with accommodation, counselling, clothes, food and medicine.

Contact: Andrási Júlia: julia.andrasi@lutheran.hu +36205133152

The Baptist Aid helps the people fleeing from Ukraine by providing – amongst other things – the following services: information, hot meals, provisional accommodation, organising travels, counselling and help to find a job. 

Contact: karpataljaert@baptistasegely.hu

Community programmes in Mira Ház on weekdays between 3-7 pm: programmes for children, families, yoga for women, sports, Hungarian language classes, free internet, information provision and a cup of tea. The volunteer mentors trained by Artemisszió also help refugees and private individuals providing accommodation to refugees. 

Contacts: 

• info@mira.artemisszio.hu
• Messenger: Mira Bokréta
• +36704117135
• https://www.facebook.com/ArtemisszioAlapitvany
• https://www.facebook.com/mirabudapest

The Hungarian Helsinki Committee provides regular, reliable information on the situation at the Ukrainian-Hungarian border and of refugees fleeing Ukraine due to the Russian invasion.

Our updates on the protection situation in Hungary:

• 2 March 2022 update
• 7 March 2022 update
• 8 March 2022 update (incorporating the new Government Decree implementing the Council Decision)
• 16 March 2022 update (including an unofficial translation of the Government Decree implementing the Council Decision)

Analysis on what Hungary is asking additional funds for from the European Union is here.

Information leaflets for refugees are available in Hungarian, Ukrainian, English, and Russian here.

In case of questions:

• Our helpline for those fleeing Ukraine is ukrainecrisis@helsinki.hu.  We answer questions on all days of the week, including on weekends.
• HHC’s Facebook page also responds to inquiries sent through Messenger: https://www.facebook.com/helsinkibizottsag.

Since February 24 our colleagues helped by giving 

• 846 phone responses,
• 1255 email responses,
• 428 Facebook responses,
• 98 responses to the media,
• 84 responses to other organizations.
• We talked to 1793 people along the border.
• We updated our information note on temporary protection 8 times, which is available in 4 languages.
• We held 22 training sessions for students, volunteers, and civil society actors.

You can support us so that we can continue helping more people

1. Support us with donations, it will help us continue offering high quality and free legal assistance for those in need.
2. If you work in Hungary, you can donate 1% of your Hungarian personal income tax to support the activities of a non-profit organisation.
   
3. Read and share our information leaflets and news with groups in which you are active.