Case Study: Cash for Protection Program
From refuge to resilience – the path to safety, stability and strength.
Author: Sophie Ford, Senior Manager in International Programs, Australian Red Cross
Following the escalation of the international armed conflict between the Russian Federation and Ukraine in February 2022, more than ten million people have had to leave their homes. The majority of people initially sought safety in neighbouring countries to the west of Ukraine, such as Poland, Slovakia, Romania and Moldova – and Hungary.
According to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), around 61,000 people affected by the conflict in Ukraine are currently in Hungary, mostly women and children. Among them is Svitlana, who now lives with her young daughter in the city of Szeged. They fled Odessa, the third most populous city in Ukraine, in February 2022 when the conflict escalated.
Hungarian Red Cross is playing an important role in responding to the needs of those who have fled from Ukraine to seek safety, providing shelter, health services, mental health support and essential items.
One of these lifeline services is the Cash for Protection program, which aims to improve marginalised groups access to basic needs while promoting protection, gender and inclusion outcomes. As of August 2024, the program has assisted 3,083 people.
Svitlana is one of the recipients of the Cash for Protection program. She was referred to the program after contacting the Hungarian Red Cross call centre for help for her and her daughter.
Svitlana appreciated the ability to decide how to use the cash assistance, as it provided her with a sense of much-needed dignity after the traumatic process of fleeing the conflict. "It's good that we have the choice to decide for ourselves how to spend the assistance."
With the cash assistance, Svitlana was able to buy new clothes and school supplies for her daughter to use as she starts first grade – an important milestone for the family.
Svitlana who lives with a disability and needs special orthopaedic footwear, also used some of the funds from the program to buy orthopaedic shoes. She shared that they have “really improved [my] quality of life,” bringing her a newfound sense of comfort and relief.
Svitlana, a Ukrainian living in Hungary, used the Cash for Protection program to
support her daughter’s education.
support her daughter’s education.
Kateryna is another displaced person from Ukrainian living in Hungary, in a shelter in the city Hódmezővásárhely.
Kateryna learned about the Hungarian Red Cross’ Cash for Health program from a staff member at the shelter. She used the cash assistance she received to purchase essential eye medication for her glaucoma.
With the winter weather growing harsher, she also used part of the funds to buy warm clothes and shoes – a crucial need to keep her safe and comfortable. “It's really important and nice that we are taken care of and that the [Hungarian] Red Cross cares and is attentive to us.”
Kateryn, a 69-year-old Ukrainian from Lviv, said Hungarian Red Cross support
has helped her manage her health conditions and stay warm during the winter.
has helped her manage her health conditions and stay warm during the winter.
Australian Red Cross funding has contributed to supporting the work of Hungarian Red Cross via the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) Emergency Appeal. This funding has been used to support shelter and Cash for Protection programs, providing individuals with the dignity and independence to purchase what they need most, based on their personal circumstances and specific needs. Simultaneously, the Cash for Protection program aimed to promote protection outcomes, gender equality, and inclusion, thereby reducing their vulnerability to violence, exploitation, and abuse.
The Hungarian Red Cross also shared its innovative approach and key learnings from the Cash for Protection program with the Turkish Red Crescent, strengthening the Türkiye Earthquake Response to the earthquakes that hit in 2023. This collaboration highlights the importance of knowledge-sharing and solidarity during times of crisis.
People impacted by the conflict in Ukraine who reside in Hungary face increasing uncertainty, with recent funding cuts by the Government, European Union and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to programs and services. Programs like the Hungarian Red Cross’ Cash for Protection program mean we can provide people fleeing the crisis with practical support. This includes access to housing, education, healthcare and the opportunity to contribute to society, just like anyone else.
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