An aid convoy worth around HUF 100 million (EUR 323,000) is about to set off to the Transcarpathian region as a joint effort of eight Hungarian charities on Tuesday morning, Minister for Human Capacities Zoltán Balog told state television M1 on Monday. He emphasised that that all aid shipments should also convey a clear message.

Mr. Balog said it is Hungary’s duty to support the Transcarpathian region, but some of the aid should reach other regions of the Ukraine beyond the Carpathians as well. Organized in cooperation with the Ukrainian embassy and other Ukrainian authorities, the eight lorries will mostly contain long shelf-life food and medical equipment. “Our constitution states clearly that national cohesion must prevail in times of joy and sorrow, through success and troubles”, the Minister said. He added that it is important that Hungarians living in the Transcarpathian region should live in safety; this requires political and diplomatic efforts, as well as material aid.

Mr. Balog said that supporting Hungarians in the Transcarpathian region is part of a national strategy in which “cohesion means that the more we are, the stronger we can be”.

Mr. Balog explained that the aid consists of medicines, medical equipment and long shelf-life food; he noted that half of the shipment is going to the Transcarpathian region, while the rest will be delivered beyond the Carpathians.

Initially the aid collection was coordinated by five members of the Hungarian Charity Council – the Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta, the Caritas Hungarica, the Hungarian Red Cross, the Hungarian Reformed Church Aid and the Hungarian Baptist Aid –, who were later on joined by several other organizations such as the Unified Jewish Congregation of Hungary, the Saint Lukas Greek-Catholic Aid and the Johannite Aid Service. The departure and safe arrival of the aid is ensured through the joint efforts of the Ministry of Human Capacities, The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Ukrainian minority self-government in Hungary.

(Ministry of Human Capacities)