Hungarian Interchurch Aid’s Ukraine Response Enters a New Phase with the Opening of Kyiv Humanitarian Centre

At the press conference held in Budapest on Friday 13 May, leaders of the two organisations announced the next phase of the joint relief programme executed in international cooperation. With 6 million refugees having already left Ukraine, and further 8 million displaced inside the country, HIA was presented with an enormous task as the leader of ACT Alliance’s response in Ukraine. László Lehel proudly announced:

Since the start of the war, were able to assist nearly 100,000 people with food, hygiene supplies, medicine, psychosocial counselling and shelter both in Hungary and in Ukraine through our humanitarian office in Lviv and the 225 community shelters in the Zakkarpatia region of Ukraine. These efforts will now be complemented by the new Kyiv humanitarian centre, focusing on longer-term projects with the aim of reconstruction and resettlement of territories devastated by the war.

Talking to the press, Jouni Hemberg expressed his gratitude for the cooperation with FCA’s sister organisation – HIA – already operating in Ukraine, which allowed them to quickly and efficiently join in on the work. Capitalising on their exceptional experience, they intend to focus their support towards education – including the renovation of schools, training of teachers and psychosocial assistance for the children – and are eager to reach out to areas in the north, where fighting previously inhibited humanitarian operations.

Jouni Hemberg and László Lehel both stressed that this cooperation is to be understood within the framework of ACT Alliance, and look forward to welcoming more member organisations working in Ukraine into this form of close cooperation.