What Budapest thinks

Thousands of Budapest citizens and tourists make their way cautiously around thousands of migrants squatting or lying down in the underpass at Budapest's Keleti train station which also shares a major subway stop. The area was renovated just a year ago, but now looks more like a dilapidated refugee camp, with garbage strewn around, and people lining up to wash themselves at a makeshift open-air washroom area.

Police walk around with surgical masks on. So do some Budapest commuters.

Everywhere children are either crying, playing or sleeping while their parents wait in anticipation of being able to board trains to western European countries. The wait may be in vain. Sleeping accommodations are the pavement where most people have managed to get a sheet of cardboard or a placemat to lie down on.

Budapest commuters

The scene has affected many Hungarians, most of whom are urging for a quick solution. Lajos, who says he's not from Budapest, was in town for a job interview, and blames the government for not doing enough.

"They claim that some of these people might be terrorists. You can't say things like that. Just look at this scene," he said as he perused the area from the ground floor of the station looking down into the underpass and the thousands of people amassed there.

Others think the Hungarian government has been put into a tight corner because of the lack of a coherent EU policy on dealing with migrants. And many of those who think that way say that Germany started the onslaught when it promised entry to Syrians. Now, Hungary is strictly following EU criteria for the movement of migrants: No papers, no further travel.

Maria, a retiree, said she is stunned every time she comes up from the subway level by elevator to be confronted with the scene in the underpass.

"You can't let something like this happen – neither to Hungary nor to these migrants. Everyone's suffering and we're left to deal with this. We've been left in the lurch by the other EU countries."

Budapest-born Cecilia comes through the underpass twice a day and is still struck by the plight of these migrants, and especially their children.

"There must be a solution and soon. On Friday, it will supposedly be only 15 degrees and rainy. Can you imagine? How can we let this go on? I mean, the government must come here and talk to these people. So far, I don't see that."

One elderly Hungarian – who wouldn't even give his first name – felt less sorry and said that the migrants should be happy they're alive. He said when he escaped from Communist Hungary in 1980 and crossed the Austrian border, he was being shot at by Hungarian border guards.

Volunteers

John Henderson is an American volunteer who works for the group called Migration Aid which was formed recently, as more and more migrants started arriving in Hungary. On a good day, up to 40 people might drop by to help out. Today the Budapest resident is helping distribute 600 bags of sandwiches that were just donated. The group also just got a lot of fruit and vegetables, and on Wednesday 100 bags of toiletry items tha included hand creams and sanitary napkins were handed out to women.

"Everything we get is donated. Some by restaurants, but usually from individuals. Most of our experiences are positive, but when we first started out, there were a lot of misconceptions. One woman told us that migrants get about 150 thousand forints (almost 500 euros) a month from the government. I corrected her: They don't get anything."

However, migrants would get government support if they were willing to enter a refugee camp and go through the refugee process in Hungary. Most migrants, though, are willing to forgo that in their attempt to continue on to the West.

While Henderson was distributing some fruit, an American tourist from Los Angeles came by and asked to make a cash donation. Seer, an African-American, was particularly struck by the calamitous scene at Keleti Train Station.

"Somebody told me I wouldn't understand, but believe me – because of my background - I do understand," as he pointed out his wife and young daughter standing on the steps, silenced by the scene they were taking in.

Annamaria, who's from Budapest, had just had some extensive dental surgery, but despite the pain left her dentist's office to come to Keleti to take some photos.

"This is traumatic. We simply cannot let this continue. We need a solution and now. I feel so sorry for these people, especially the children," she said.

Meanwhile, Henderson was talking to medical staff who are all volunteers about getting more supplies. He said the main doctor who works part of the day there then goes on to her main job at the hospital. Henderson hopes that the situation will normalize.

"I love this city and this country, and I hope we will have a solution soon. I don't want this to be a black spot on Hungary's reputation."