U.N. fears for protection of Serbian asylum-seekers

Hungary is displaying “a very clear intention” to curtail the access refugees have to protection in the country, the head of the United Nations’ refugee agency said Tuesday while visiting a transit zone for asylum-seekers at the Hungary-serbia border.

U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said he was particularly concerned that Hungary is detaining asylum-seekers in closed centers at the border while they await decisions on their applications and appeals.

Grandi also was critical of the low number of refugees allowed to file asylum claims — five a day at each of two transit zones — as well as of the “very low rate” of approvals. He further cited a lack of investment in encouraging the few refugees allowed to remain to integrate.

Grandi said conditions at the Roszke transit zone were “acceptable,” but added that the detention aspect of Hungary’s approach was worrisome.