UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, expressed today its dismay over recent additional restrictions at border crossing points, which have further reduced access to territory, for asylum-seekers and refugees. It also called the Government of Hungary to withdraw a proposed bill that would deprive people fleeing war, violence and persecution of vital support from NGOs and civil society. For the past few weeks, UNHCR has observed that the Hungarian authorities are, on average, only allowing two asylum-seekers a day to enter the country through the two “transit zones” at the border with Serbia. Since asylum-seekers who attempt to cross the razor-wire border fences are automatically removed, Hungary has practically closed its borders to people seeking international protection, in clear breach of its obligations under international and EU law.
