U.S. Committee for Refugees World Refugee Survey 2004 - Hungary
| Publisher | United States Committee for Refugees and Immigrants |
| Publication Date | 25 May 2004 |
| Cite as | United States Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, U.S. Committee for Refugees World Refugee Survey 2004 - Hungary , 25 May 2004, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/40b4593c10.html [accessed 5 November 2019] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
At the end of 2003, Hungary hosted some 1,500 refugees and asylum seekers in need of protection, including over 1,300 asylum seekers with pending cases or applications, and around 200 persons granted asylum during the year.
Authorities granted some 772 persons authorization to stay, mostly Afghans (360), and Iraqis (200).
During 2003, some 2,400 persons applied for asylum in Hungary, down about 62 percent from 2002. The largest number of applications came from Afghans (470), Iraqis (350), Georgians (250), and Iranians (170). Of the over 200 persons granted asylum, most were from Iraq (33), Afghanistan (28), and Serbia and Montenegro (18). Out of the over 1,500 persons denied asylum, authorities deemed almost 100 claims as manifestly unfounded.
Hungary revoked the status of 13 refugees during 2003 for reasons that included that included voluntary repatriation, changed circumstances in the country of origin, or fraud.
During the year, the government discontinued the applications of over 1,400 persons who did not appear for their proceedings.. Just over 100 individuals withdrew their applications.
Authorities granted asylum to about 7 percent of the over 2,500 asylum cases decided on the merits at the first instance, higher than the 3 percent granted in 2002.
New Developments
The government extradited a Moldovan asylum seeker before a decision was made on his case. The Hungarian Ministry of Justice stated that the asylum seeker, who was represented by counsel, had given his informed consent to simplified, expedited extradition, and only later, 10 days before the extradition applied for asylum. Both the Hungarian Helsinki Committee and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees intervened but were unable to stop it.
In June, the government opened a home for separated foreign children, including asylum seekers, the first of its kind in Central and Eastern Europe, and considered a model. In December, the Ombudsman's office published a report concerning the death of asylum seekers during deportation and recommended that detailed rules for deportation be implemented.
