Two companies owned by Lőrinc Mészáros, Hungary’s richest businessman – who is also PM Viktor Orbán’s childhood friend – are offering accommodation, food, logistical equipment, and disinfectants to refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine through charitable organizations.
In a joint statement issued on Wednesday, the two companies – Mészáros Group and OPUS GLOBAL Nyrt – said that Hunguest Hotels Zrt., part of OPUS GLOBAL Nyrt., had opened its Budapest hotels to war refugees for the next month as part of a contribution of some 112 million forints.
The two hotels will be able to accommodate 360 people for the next month, who will be provided with accommodation and one daily hot meal free of charge, the statement said.
Since Friday, 116 refugees have already been sheltered through the Hungarian Ecumenical Relief Organization.
Neither Hunguest Hotels Zrt. nor its owner, OPUS GLOBAL Nyrt. is receiving any state compensation for hosting the refugees, nor any compensation from other organizations, the statement outlined.
Since the outbreak of the war, both the press and the opposition have been asking when Lőrinc Mészáros would open his hotels to refugees, noted government-critical conservative news site, Magyar Hang.
In response, the company at the beginning of March said that “as soon as concrete requests for humanitarian aid arise, OPUS GLOBAL Nyrt. will be ready to help immediately.”
Last January, the Mészáros Group distributed more than 46 tons of food to the victims of the earthquake-hit Croatia, and in cooperation with major Hungarian entrepreneurs, provided 120 fully-equipped and furnished containers to help those who were left homeless.
Featured photo by Boglárka Bodnár/MTI
