LONG TERM ASSISTANCE TO THE VICTIMS OF THE ECOLOGICAL DISASTER

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Support HIA’s work in the following ways:

If you wish to support our work, you may send donations on-line or to the following bank accounts:

Hungarian Forint (HUF) Accounts: OTP Bank NyRt
Account name: Magyar Ökumenikus Segélyszervezet
HUF Account: HU 32-11705008-20464565-00000000
SWIFT code: OTPV HU HB

Foreign Currency Accounts: Magyar Külkereskedelmi Bank Rt.
Account name: Interchurch Aid
EURO Account: HU 42-1030-0002-5010-0126-2100-4882
USD Account: HU 41-1030-0002-5010-0126-2101-4018
SWIFT code: MKKB HU HB

Thank You for Your donation!

GALÉRIA

1. Background

With 7,000 people affected directly by the disaster on 5th October 2010 a state of emergency has been declared in three western counties of Hungary after the chemical waste burst from a reservoir at the Ajkai Timfoldgyar plant in the town of Ajka.

2. Emergency assistance

Hungarian Interchurch Aid have been providing assistance to the population of the disaster hit settlements (Kolontár, Devecser). During the first days of the disaster Hungarian Interchurch Aid provided assistance to those evacuated from the homes: food parcels and hygienic kits, with different types of parcels compiled for families with small children. As a second phase of the emergency assistance the HIA distributed tools for cleaning the houses and streets: buckets, rags, rubber gloves and boots, etc.
HIA is organizing groups of volunteers coming from firms, congregations to take part in the currently ongoing cleaning works on the streets and in the gardens of the affected settlements.
The emergency assistance reached the amount of EUR 20,000 so far.

3. Long term assistance to the victims

Firms, institutions, individuals in Hungary and abroad have been joining in solidarity Hungarian Interchurch Aid with a wish to support HIA in its efforts of assisting the victims. Therefore HIA have initiated a fundraising campaign and have addressed its donors with an appeal for funding to support the second phase of the program.

HIA’s experts are working on assessments in the project locations that will be the basis of the second phase of the program. The program will have different elements of reconstruction, rehabilitation. At this present stage it seems that the main pillar of the rehabilitation will be the so-called “voucher system”, which has been used by HIA in many emergency projects earlier.

The aim of the program will be to assist families in returning to their normal lives (after the government has rebuilt or reconstructed their homes) with providing assistance in replacing lost household equipments. The method of the voucher system provides families with a free possibility to replace lost household equipments. HIA is establishing certain categories according to the damages suffered by the families (e.g. EUR 2000, EUR 3000, EUR 4000/family, etc.) Beneficiary families are receiving vouchers of the established categories, by means of this beneficiaries can purchase exactly that kind of equipment that is most needed by the family. Within this program HIA is concluding contracts with shops in the surrounding settlements, where beneficiaries can redeem the vouchers for the equipments.

HELP NOW!

Support HIA’s work in the following ways:

Who we are?

Hungarian Interchurch Aid (HIA) was founded in 1991. By today HIA has become one of the biggest NGDO operating in Hungary which gained international reputation as well (it is an organization of high public utility). Its intention is to provide assistance to those in need regardless of gender, nationality and religion.

Founders of the organization include not only the historic Protestant churches, but also the Methodist, Unitarian and Orthodox churches, home and foreign individuals. HIA's activities are based on openness and adherence to humanitarian principles, international development standards. The operation of the organization is audited in every year by international auditing company (KPMG).

HIA – as a member organisation of ACT-International (Geneva/Switzerland), a signatory to the FPA with ECHO (European Commission, Humanitarian Aid Office), and a member of APRODEV (Association of World Council of Churches–related development organisations), HAND Association (Hungarian Association of NGOs for Development and Humanitarian Aid) and Eurodiaconia has gained many experiences in humanitarian and development work that can be of assistance in its operation in different programs. Continuous capacity building of its staff members is also provided by way of cooperating with European and non-European member agencies of the above organisations, associations. HIA has also been able to conclude co-operational agreements with the Hungarian Ministry of foreign Affairs for the implementation of both emergency and development programs. In addition HIA established long term partnerships and co-operation with numerous INGOs under bilateral or multilateral agreements.

Main scope of work:

International development activities

HIA as member of APRODEV (Association of World Council of Churches–related development organisations), is active in implementing long-term development projects in several regions of the world, focusing on complex agricultural and environmental programs, organisational capacity building, development programs for unemployed people, social development programs, reconstruction and institutional development programmes, long-term rehabilitation programs.

Focal regions: Eastern-Europe and the Balkan, Central Asia.

Humanitarian assistance

HIA – as a member organisation of ACT-International (Geneva/Switzerland), a signatory to the FPA with ECHO (European Commission, Humanitarian Aid Office), has been providing humanitarian assistance to the victims of natural and man-made disasters in need regardless of gender, nationality and religion in many countries all over the world since 1991 in the following countries: Afghanistan, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Czech Republic, Gaza Strip, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kosovo, Lebanon, Macedonia, Pakistan, Poland, Romania, Russia (Northern-Caucasus), Serbia, Slovakia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Thailand, Ukraine, Uzbekistan.

Social institutions in Hungary

HIA take part in easing social problems in different regions of Hungary through a network of 18 social institutions with more than one hundred staff-members. The organisation seeks solutions for families facing crisis situations, drug-addicts, endangered and disadvantaged children and for homeless people. HIA operate a home nursing service for sick people and also promote integration of Roma minorities. The institutions are situated throughout the country in bigger towns and at small settlements - Budapest, Miskolc, Debrecen, Szolnok, Orosháza, Gyula, Olaszliszka, Erőspuszta. During its operation HIA has implemented and/or is currently implementing several following pilot projects, such as labour exchange with individual assistance, development projects for Roma children, crisis home for assaulted women, halfway accommodations.

Supporting refugees in Hungary

Besides supporting refugees in its international operational areas HIA have maintained refugee centres during the ‘90s in Hungary. In 2008 HIA launched a special programme in Bicske for unaccompanied refugee minors. The programme aims to provide continuous provision for refugees arriving from different countries of the world.

Development Education

Hungarian Interchurch Aid as a humanitarian and development agency, have realized that NGDOs in the NMS countries besides doing development work should make efforts to concentrate on public awareness raising at all levels of society towards development, humanitarian issues and voluntary participation in the civil society. Besides participating in church events, festivals, youth gatherings, different actions nowadays HIA is implementing special development education and awareness raising projects with the support of the Austrian, Hungarian government and the EU.

Love.Hunger

Fundraising

Our most significant annual fundraising campaign lasts from the first Sunday of Advent to the end of the year. Incomes of this campaign greatly contribute to the implementation of aid programs throughout the year. In case of emergencies appeals are issued promptly to reach our donators. Our group of active donators consists of forty thousand individuals at the moment.

Donation

Our address

HungarianInterchurch Aid

H-1116 Budapest, Tomaj u. 4.

Telefon: (36) 1-208-4932, (36)-1-208-4933

Fax: (36)-1-208-4934

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