In the provinces the situation is distinctly better. The bread ration in Budapest is l00 grams daily per person, or 70 grams of flour. The black market is considered legal and prices are not controlled. If any person succeeds in slipping through the Russian city control with his products, he can sell them freely. The factories are working exclusively for the Russians.
Laborers receive a threefold food ration.
In order to maintain this ration the Russians are compelled to transport a limited quantity of food to Budapest. During the siege the population had to live exclusively on whatever stocks or reserves it had piled up. Hygienic conditions are very saddening. Every block of houses has one doctor for surveillance against epidemics, but on the other hand, pharmaceutical products and medicines are completely missing, although the Russians have given some disinfectants for the population of Budapest . The pharmacies were completely looted by the Germans, the Hungarian Nazis and the Russians.