One in three Hungarians helped refugees fleeing Ukraine
According to the vast majority of Hungarians (77%), the government sufficiently manages the situation of refugees from Ukraine, according to a representative survey conducted by the Maria Kopp Institute for Demography and Families, which asked 1000 people. One in three Hungarians provided some assistance to refugees from Ukraine, and the same number is aware that the number of refugees arriving in our country has now exceeded 600,000. Most of them donated money (58%) or provided other donations to those in need (40%).
The number of people fleeing Ukraine has now exceeded 5.5 million. Since the end of February, more than 650 000 people have arrived to Hungary from the neighbouring country. Almost immediately, the country came together as one to help people seeking refuge from war.
In its latest research, KINCS surveyed how Hungarians felt about helping those people fleeing Ukraine to Hungary. More than three quarters (77%) of the respondents said that the government was responsible and adequately managed the situation of the refugees, and only 13% of the respondents were dissatisfied (10% could not judge the question).
One in three Hungarian adults (31%) provided assistance to refugees from Ukraine. 36% of women and a quarter of men participated in the aid with donations or voluntary work. Retired people, married people, those with more than two children and those with tertiary education helped the most.
People mostly donated money (58%), food (40%) and provided other donations (39%) to support those in need, with men preferring money and women preferring other means. Nearly one-fifth of the respondents who provided assistance also volunteered to help the refugees, most of them from the middle age group, between the ages of 30 and 50.
Half of the respondents were aware that the Ukrainian refugees arriving in Hungary receive organized care at the assistance points established in the border settlements (Záhony, Lónya, Barabás, Beregsurány, Tiszabecs), but 37% were also aware that they receive assistance at the humanitarian transit facility established in the BOK Spartshall in Budapest. Regarding the organizations involved in the support of refugees, most respondents mentioned aid organisations, with the highest rates being the Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta and the Hungarian Red Cross (36%). The majority is aware that the government, churches and civilian charities are working together to help refugees, in which economic actors also play a significant role.
The KINCS survey shows that the majority of Hungarians are well informed about how many Ukrainian refugees have entered the country so far. A third (31%) of the respondents know exactly that their number is more than 600 thousands, another third said that less than half a million people came from Ukraine, and a quarter said 500 and 600 thousand people.
Overall, many people are willing to help people from Ukraine and to even perform voluntary work. They are well informed about how many people have come so far and how and through which organizations they can provide assistance. They believe that the government is doing well and is managing the Ukrainian refugee crisis properly.
Assistance is still very much needed, so it would be important to continue to have people who are willing to volunteer. For example, in the children's corner in BOK Hall, volunteers are still welcome. They can register at the following link: https://bokonkentesek.booked4.us/public/
Methodology: The national representative survey was conducted by telephone, interviewing 1000 people among the adult population between 13-22 April 2022.
Further information: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
