Holocaust survivors in Budapest to receive €12 million

Survivors of the Holocaust living in Budapest are to receive a total of 12 million euros from the German government in recognition of their suffering, Claims Conference managing director Greg Schneider told reporters in Budapest on Wednesday.

Schneider said that each claimant would receive a one-off payment of 1,900 euros from the Claims Conference's Budapest Fund. He noted that the organisation's records contained the files of 5,790 people who survived the persecution of WWII in the Budapest ghetto, but some 4,500 of them receive monthly compensation payments from other programmes and are not entitled to this amount.

Schneider estimated the number of people actually entitled to the compensation at a few hundred. Survivors who have left Hungary and now live in other countries continue to be entitled to the payment, he added.

"The payments are intended to historically recognize the terrible fate of Budapest Jews amidst Nazi persecution," Schneider said, adding that the funds "cannot compensate people for the suffering or loss of family members."

Entitled claimants will be granted the 1,900 euros within 90 days of receiving their applications, Schneider said.

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