Due to the war in Ukraine, human lives are at risk, people lack basic supplies and have been forced to leave their homes. IDPs have reached the Western part of Ukraine and refugees are arriving to Hungary in growing numbers. The Hungarian Reformed Church Aid has been providing emergency response from the first day. Daily update.
A significant aid shipment has reached Transcarpathia from Transylvania (14:32)
Yesterday, the first aid shipment of the Reformed Church District of Transylvania, Romania, reached Transcarpathia, www.reformatus.ro reported. Around 14,000 adult diapers were delivered to Reformed diaconal institutions and elderly homes based on a fundraising campaign in the congregations, announced Bishop Béla Kató, head of the Transylvanian Church District. Needs were reported by the Reformed Church of Transcarpathia, and it turned out that there were big problems in the homes for the elderly and the sick without staff, which is why it was necessary to provide adult diapers for them. Bela Kató also pointed out that at the moment, "financial contributions are the best way to help the brothers and sisters left in Transcarpathia, and it is important to give them in an organised way so that they reach those in need". The Church District has so far collected 475,000 lei in aid. A survey of churches in Transylvania showed that they could provide more than five hundred places for refugees in need.
Shelter offered by the Scottish Mission (15:26)
On 22 march, the Scottish Mission in Budapest reopened its church to shelter refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine. They had been preparing for the event for days mattresses and bedding, setting up a rota. About twenty people have the possibility to be accommodated. Yesterday, they also reported that many people had volunteered and that they had someone cooking every day of the week and their fridges were full.
At the end of February - just after the Ukrainian war began - pastor Aaron was challenged with a difficult question. Despite his doubt, he chose to take action and open up a refugee shelter in our church. After the first week, we had to close our doors for a while because of Covid cases. “But this week we reopened our doors thanks to all the support we received from all around the world!”
If you'd like to follow what's happening in our shelter, please check out our Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/stcolumbas_scottish_church/ or follow our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ScottishMissionBudapest For donations please go to http://www.scottishmission.org/donation or volunteer by filling out this form: https://forms.gle/XqbdVbdvtQmZVYYe6
St. Columba Church of Scotland in Budapest is the international congregation of RCH.
Three hundred tonnes of donations delivered to people in need by HRCA (16:14)
Almost three hundred tons of donations were delivered to the needy suffering from the war until march 25 by the Hungarian Reformed Church Aid. Of this amount, more than 166 tonnes of relief supplies have crossed the border.
According to the relief organisation, almost 163,000 people have so far been helped in one way or another. More than 4,100 of them have received medical care and more than 1,600 have asked for spiritual help.
The charity has 3158 people working to care for refugees, including more than 2200 volunteers. It is supported by 110 doctors and 715 interpreters.
HRCA’s daily operation in numbers
- Information requested: 407 persons
- Transport requested: 7 persons
- Accommodation requested: 5 persons
- Mental health assistance: 26 persons
- Medical care: 0 persons
- Meals, drinks: 337 persons
- Hygiene and childcare products: 37 persons
- Blankets: 0 persons
- Number of persons on duty: 51 persons
- of which volunteers: 25
- of which health worker: 0
- of which interpreter: 4
Edited and translated by Anna Derencsényi, international officer of the Diaconia of RCH.