MUN Policy Paper

Country: Hungary
Committee: UNHCR
Delegate: Samantha Harmer
Opening Statement
War, conflict, and persecution have forced more people out of their homes than ever
causing them to seek refuge and safety elsewhere. An article from UNHCR's annual Global
Trends Report, World at War, released June 2015, states, Worldwide displacement was at the
highest level ever recorded. It said the number of people forcibly displaced at the end of 2014
had risen to a staggering 59.5 million compared to 51.2 million a year earlier and 37.5 million a
decade ago. Globally, one in every 122 humans is now either a refugee, internally displaced, or
seeking asylum. This is the biggest increase ever seen in a single year and is forecasted only
to get worse. Globally, refugees from countries, including Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Colombia,
Central Africa, and many more countries, are now fleeing war, poverty, and famine. This flood of
refugees is a global crisis that requires a global solution.
National Actions
Hungary is tired of being the checkpoint for these refugees traveling to Germany. We
understand their desire for a better life as well as their desperate need to have more humane
living circumstances. However, their attempts are wounding the economy of Hungary as well
as other countries such as Serbia, Italy and France. Hungary has received almost 150,000
migrants so far this year -- 50,000 this month alone -- but none of them want to stay in the
country. We need to be aware of our needs before trying to fix the problems of the world which
is why we made the decision to close off our borders. We are no longer accepting any refugees
that are undocumented.
UN & International Actions
The United Nations believes the best way to solve the refugee crisis is to distribute
refugees to countries all around Europe, but what they are not realizing is that some countries
are in no position to accept them. A UNHCR report states,
While UNHCR and UNRWA remain the mandated international agencies to safeguard
the rights of the worlds 15 million refugees, responsibility for aiding the 27.5 million
internally displaced is now being divided among several United Nations bodies. The new
approach involves assigning coordination responsibility for specific functions to individual
international agencies with expertise in those particular sectors or clusters.
These organizations are making decisions based on what will assist the refugees and not
looking at what the countries actually needs to support them. This situation is becoming more
about refugees instead of creating a strong foundation for the United Nations in order to better
support these people. This is why Hungary is going against the United Nation and closing our
border. For months, our prime minister, Viktor Orban, has repeatedly asked for a multinational
European effort to intercept refugees at the Greek border rather than the current piecemeal

approach, at borders throughout the Balkans and Central Europe. So far, the proposal has
found no support. We have had more than 350,000 refugees enter our country this year alone
through the West Balkans route. This is putting much pressure on us as a country and we no
longer can continue accepting refugees, so we have to take matters in our own hands and try
do what we believe is best for our country. The UN is addressing problems such as the way our
countries handle our refugees, but seem to forget about the state in which the country is in. We
need to remind them that if the country has no firm foundation in which to support the refugees
not only will the refugees suffer, but so will the country.
Recommendation for Action
Now that the refugee crisis is no longer a new concept we can take a step back and
realize what is and is not working to solve this issue. Many countries have experimented in
trying new things to better handle these refugees, some good some not so good. Hungary,
having been familiarized with this issue, believes they have come to a potential solution.
Making it easier to apply for asylum
Coming from a country at war many refugees do not have their documentation or it has been
destroyed. It takes a long time for asylum to be granted and while these people are waiting they
are stuck in conditions that are unbarable. If we lessen the requirements of applying the process
becomes quicker and more efficient. Giving these refugees the ability to proceed to the next
step in adjusting their lives.
Financial assistance from richer countries to support traveling and
humanitarian resources
Countries such as Russia, Germany, Italy, France, Austria, USA, UK and Denmark are very
wealthy countries. We need them to give us more money to support the flow of refugees. Some
countries such as Russia do not want refugees, but have a very wealthy economy. If Russia
isnt willing to house these refugees in their country why not make give money to other countries
to help support them? Germany is accepting refugees, but the destination is far for most
refugees causing them to go through dangerous situations on their way, as well as putting
pressure on counties that cannot support them. If Germany helps out financially we can make
this journey safer for the refugees and lose fewer lives. This also eliminates the money refugees
spend on smugglers that should be contributing to their new life and helping them get back on
their feet. Refugee camps need to be less imprisoning and more like a support group. We need
to invest in giving camps the health care, human basics such as food, water, and electricity, and
refugee access to jobs and most importantly education. Not only will this help refugees now, but
will also aid their reintegration to the home country when safe to do so giving them the
foundation they need to restart their economy. Overall if the richer countries are willing to give
money to support refugees in one way or another we are one step closer to fixing the problem.
Micro loaning for integrating
Micro loaning would go to refugees to help them start their own business or just to invest in
them until they are on their feet and are able to contribute to society. Once they have received
the loan they have just that much support to help them become a functional part of society.