New Zealand needs to step up efforts for refugees, says Kiwi in Budapest

Refugees camp outside Keleti Train Station, Budapest while waiting to get into Germany. Photo: Farhana Sacha

A Kiwi living in Hungary says New Zealand and the international community need to step up for Syrian refugees fleeing to Europe.

New Zealander Farhana Sacha has been living in Budapest, Hungary, with her husband and son for almost a year.

The family have been fundraising and distributing supplies to refugees living outside Keleti Train Station. The group are awaiting resettlement across Europe as they try to escape the conflict in their country.

Volunteers in Hungary provide supplies for refugees. Photo: Farhana Sacha

Around 2000 people, including children, have been sleeping inside the train station, with only a handful of belongings each.

Ms Sacha and her husband have been fundraising to purchase and give out clothes, bedding, backpacks, sanitary items and food to the displaced people.

A young boy digs into supplied food while guarding his possessions. Photo: Farhana Sacha

“Many refugees we meet are tired and frustrated. We have to acknowledge that these people were once upon a time self sufficient. They are not used to accepting help or charity,” said Ms Sacha.

“Many would like to be able to return to Syria but are fearful of the war. One man I met had escaped prison and has been on the run ever since. He says he was wrongfully imprisoned. The conditions were so bad during his incarceration that he actually felt grateful that he was in Hungary, despite the poor conditions he was being kept in.”

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán says his government will not accept refugees. Laws to criminalise crossing the new border fence have been in effect since September 15.

Ms Sacha believes the Hungarian government should face consequences for the way they have decided to address the crisis, and New Zealand should be one of the countries to apply pressure.

“New Zealand, as well as any other country, has a duty and responsibility to stand up and help. International pressure on the Hungarian government needs to be so strong that they are driven to make the conditions here better,” said Ms Sacha.

“A shared responsibility amongst nations, including New Zealand, needs to be taken to house the many people who have been displaced. It’s not fair to expect one country to take on this burden…and it’s wrong of other countries to simply ignore the situation.”

New Zealanders open their homes to refugees

A Facebook page ‘New Zealand Please Open your Doors to Syria’ is calling for New Zealanders to host a refugee individual or family in their homes.

Campaign co-founder Laura Surrich says the idea has had a positive response.

“People say 600 [refugees] is enough [to accept into New Zealand] but what they don’t realise is that it’s such a drop in the ocean when you realise nearly half of all refugees are children.

“That’s quite a disturbing figure and I know New Zealanders can be a little bit cautious. We’ve done this before 70 years ago. This is exactly what happened with the Jewish [during World War II].

“We tried to close our doors, we only let in 1000 [Jewish refugees] when they were in desperate times. Now we have a time to make amends for our lack of action in the past.”

Around 850 people have registered their support of the site, and there is a protest planned for Saturday 19 September in Auckland’s Aotea Square to draw attention to the issue.

According to Amnesty International, there are currently 60 million displaced people around the world.