Camp of Tents for Refugees - Findings of the Ombudsman's On the Spot Inspection - AJBH-EN
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null Camp of Tents for Refugees - Findings of the Ombudsman's On the Spot Inspection
Camp of Tents for Refugees - Findings of the Ombudsman's On the Spot Inspection
The number of people requesting asylum in Hungary from January to May this year is more than three times more than the total of last year. Compared to the same period of last year, the number of asylum requests is tenfold. Based on these data, the colleagues of the Ombudsman have conducted an unannounced inspection in the tent camp for refugees established on the premises of the Nagyfa unit of the Szeged Penitentiary and Prison. The on‑the‑spot investigation has not found any infringement of basic rights in connection with the arrest of illegal immigrants but it has uncovered some anomalies in the camp's management.
According to the plans, the tent camp of the Temporary Reception Centre, capable of accommodating 300 single men, will operate only till 15 October. One of the reasons for choosing this location was that most of the illegal immigrants had been apprehended on the Csongrád County section of the state border between Hungary and Serbia. On the other hand, the penitentiary institution of Nagyfa is located at more than 10 kilometres from the surrounding settlements, and the closest stopping of the bus line operating 4 times a day is at 4 kilometres from the Temporary Reception Centre. Therefore, it was highly unlikely that the residents of the refugee camp operating as an open facility would disturb the local population.
The Commissioner for Fundamental Rights has established that no fundamental right was infringed upon in the course of the illegal immigrants' arrest. The fact that the refugees authority had established a tent camp for the temporary placement of the numerous adult male asylum seekers did not cause any fundamental right related anomalies, either. Such anomalies have been uncovered not in connection with their placement in tents but in connection with its practical execution and with the deficiency of legal regulation.
During some periods in July and August of this year, red alert was issued for the entire territory of the country due to the extreme heat. According to the Ombudsman's findings, the automated weather station of the Hungarian Meteorological Service outside Szeged registered a maximum temperature of 36.5 degrees centigrade. At this time, the conditions for the cooling and the proper storing of the food and water distributed to the foreigners were not ensured in the camp. It caused anomalies not only in connection with the fundamental right to health but also in connection with the right to religious freedom, taking into account that it was during Ramadan, requiring Muslims to fast from dawn until sunset. The Temporary Reception Centre would not assume responsibility for any valuables and cash left in the tents; therefore, the lack of legally required safekeeping also jeopardised the implementation of the fundamental right to property. The fact that the minimal nutritional value of the food provided to asylum seekers was not specified could also lead to the infringement of fundamental rights.
In connection with the above, the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights requested the Minister of Interior and the Director General of the Office of Immigration and Nationality to take the appropriate measures.
The Hungarian text of the report/petition may be found at: