Záhony, a city near the Ukrainian border, has become the hub for the intervention of the Hungarian Reformed Church Aid, with thousands of people crossing the border from Ukraine each day. In Budapest, Aid organisations, NGO’s and civilians work together in receiving refugees from the morning hours until midnight at the railway stations. The shortage of shelters represents the biggest challenge at the moment.
Day by day, from the early hours on, staff and volunteers of HRCA are present in Záhony, where a centre for intervention and reception has been dedicated to HRCA which closely works together with congregations of RCH who organized themselves since the first day of the war and has been offering shelters and in-kind donations on the spot. They distribute water, tea and sandwiches to those arriving. There has been a growing need for transportation of individuals, families and groups entering Hungary.
Though local churches, whose majority belongs to the Reformed Church in the region, and local governments continue offering shelters, the capacities are quickly exhausted. HRCA transformed some of its own premises into shelters also in Budapest. HRCA created a countrywide database of available shelters offered by congregations, church institutions and members of local churches.
HRCA has been blessed with a growing number of volunteers who kept working faithfully and restlessly at the railway stations in the past days. They not only dedicate their time, energy and expertise, like medical doctors, but bring fruits, medicines, toiletries, soft drinks, toys and so much more. In the meantime, HRCA is preparing food packages around the clock, delivers non-perishable food to its central warehouses in Budapest, Debrecen and Gelenes, a hub for the distribution of humanitarian aid, near the border. To coordinate offerings, delivery and distribution, HRCA set up a hotline.