ZCZC
BFF-31
HUNGARY-MIGRANTS-UN-RIGHTS
UN accuses Hungary of denying rejected asylum seekers food
GENEVA, May 3, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Hungary is deliberately depriving
rejected asylum seekers of food, in violation of international law, the
United Nations charged Friday, in the latest criticism of Prime Minister
Viktor Orban’s anti-migrant government.
The UN’s human rights office said it had direct information that “at least
21 migrants awaiting deportation had been deprived of food by the Hungarian
authorities — some for up to five days,” since August 2018.
The High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, had last
September accused Hungary of withholding food from migrants being held in
transit zones along its border with Serbia.
The UN rights office pointed out that the Hungarian authorities had
promised to end the practice following an interim ruling by the European
Court of Human Rights.
“However, we regret that, in the absence of a clear change in the legal
framework, reports suggest the practice is continuing,” spokeswoman Ravina
Shamdasani said.
She said that once an asylum application had been denied, all adult
migrants, with the exception of pregnant and nursing women, “are deliberately
deprived of food.”
This, she pointed out, “can lead to malnutrition and is both detrimental
to their health and inherently inhumane.”
The Hungary government stressed in an official blog post earlier this week
that “asylum seekers who have requested asylum and whose claim is under
review continue to receive food and shelter as they always have.”
But it acknowledged that “we take the position that Hungary is not
responsible for those who have not requested asylum, nor for those whose
requests have been denied.”
It maintained that rejected asylum seekers were not detained and were free
to leave and cross into Serbia.
The UN rights office rejected the Hungarian assertion that migrants can
simply travel to Serbia to have their needs met.
“We note that such ‘voluntary’ departure could put migrants at further
risk as it could breach Hungarian deportation orders, and force migrants to
enter Serbia irregularly in contravention of Serbian law,” it said.
In general, it insisted, “migrants must not be subject to detention in
inadequate conditions, arbitrary detention or other forms of coercion as this
renders any return involuntary.”
The rights office pointed out that the deliberate deprivation of food is
prohibited under international law.
It stressed that countries have “an obligation and heightened duty of care
towards migrants who are deprived of their liberty, including through the
provision of food.”
“We encourage Hungary to ensure it fulfils its human rights obligations
towards those deprived of liberty, regardless of whether they are in transit
zones or any other place where migrants are detained and cannot provide for
themselves,” it said.
BSS/AFP/BZC/1830HRS