The humanitarian and development project launched 2 years ago by the Hungarian Ecumenical Aid Organization with the support of the Hungarian Government has entered a new phase.

State Secretary for the Aid of Persecuted Christian and the realisation of the Hungary Helps Program Azbej Tristan said: “The Hungary Helps Program considers the aid organization an ally.”

He recalled that the Hungarian Government promptly recognised the link between humanitarian crises and migration, and accordingly its policy is to provide assistance locally.

“Hungary is gaining in strength, and as a result there are sufficient resources available for dealing with the world’s problems, while taking into consideration the interests of the Hungarian people,” the State Secretary of added. Hungary provides help in regions of crisis, so that locals do not have to migrate, and those who have been forced to leave their homes are able to return to their homeland.

“We do not want to bring the problems to Europe and Hungary, but to take assistance to where the problems are,” he said. “The Hungarian Government is laying special attention to helping persecuted Christians, as Christianity is the most persecuted religion. Moreover, one of the most hushed-up humanitarian crises is the one with the Nineveh plains at its epicentre. In 2004, there were 1.5 million Christians living in East-Iraq, but s a result of persecution and the devastation of war, this number has been reduced to just 200 thousand”, Mr. Azbej added.

“The assistance provided by the Ecumenic Aid Organization is of special quality, as by enabling people to remain close to their homeland and returning to it, it is contributing to stopping migration”, the State Secretary declared.

Chairman-Director of the aid organization László Lehel said that they have been helping families who have returned following the war since 2014, while paying special attention to persecuted Christians. In the autumn of 2017, with the support of the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, , they renovated houses and schools within the framework of the Hungary Helps Program, in addition to completing a water network that supplies 2500 people, and distributing firewood, food, and blankets at a cost of 125 million forints (EUR 400,000).

Mr. Lehel said that in addition to their governmental support, the organisation is launching a fundraiser entitled “Let’s provide an opportunity to return and stay!” to ensure that the children of Iraqi families returning following the war are able to resume their education. The monetary donations received until 31 March via the 1353 donation line, the www.segelyszervezet.hu online donation platform and directly to the 11705008-20464565 account number with the word “Iraq” in the comments section, will supply the renovated school buildings with furniture, blackboards and other equipment.

(MTI/Prime Minister's Office)