The uptick in the number of refugees from Ukraine to Hungary is hardly surprising given the cold winter and the damage to the Ukrainian infrastructure and housing.

The majority of the refugees were intellectuals, mostly from Transylvania, followed by those from what is Slovakia, Serbia and Austria today, but there were also some who fled to Hungary from Bosnia-Herzegovina.

As gunfights between the human smugglers camping near Hungary’s border have become a daily occurrence, PM Orbán announced the creation of a new border patrol force ready to meet the challenge.

Even if we focus only on Hungary, we see that around 450.000 refugees from Ukraine have crossed the country’s border so far, which is by far the highest influx of displaced persons to the country since the Yugoslav war.

Refugees can now access social welfare and medical assistance, while Ukrainian children have the right to attend education and day care in Hungary.