Hungary Helps scheme may serve as model, says government official

Pope Francis’ visit to Iraq has channelled global interest to the situation of Christians in the Middle East and the Hungary Helps aid programme, which may serve as a model for other humanitarian programmes and governments, a Hungarian government official told MTI on Tuesday.

Returning from Iraq today, Tristan Azbej, the state secretary responsible for aiding persecuted Christians, said his trip had three purposes. Firstly, he wished to attend the pope’s historic visit, which he said offered a beacon of hope to Iraq’s Christian community, highlighted their hardships and directed global interest to the Hungarian model of assistance.

Secondly, Azbej saw the sites of ongoing Hungarian projects and took stock of the humanitarian situation. He visited the town of Tel Askuf, which was reconstructed with Hungarian assistance, and several schools built under the Hungary Helps scheme.

The houses, schools and churches of the locals driven away by the jihadists have been rebuilt, but the return and long-term stay of Christians will only be guaranteed once agriculture has been restarted, he said, adding that Hungary’s assistance would now focus on that area.