A team of the Hungarian Reformed Church Aid set off for Transylvania with two tons of humanitarian aid and water pumps to help flood victims and displaced families.
The region of Transylvania, Romania, a historically Hungarian ethnic region, is experiencing flooding in several areas following heavy rains in recent weeks. Numerous settlements across the region are endangered by the flooding and resulting water infiltration. The settlement of Parajd (Praid) is facing a particular threat from the damage to the historical Parajd Salt Mine, which has served as both a salt mine and tourist destination, attracting over 450,000 visitors a year. The structural integrity of the mine is at risk, as well as the impact of the resulting salinisation on the surrounding soil and water reserves.
Az indulás előtti percek az MRSZ országos logisztikai központjában, Ebesen
On May 29th, the Hungarian Reformed Church Aid (HRCA) dispatched a search and rescue team with a two-tonne humanitarian shipment of food and hygiene equipment to assist in the crisis. In addition to this, the team worked with local authorities and experts to collaborate on damage reduction efforts. This involved using industrial water pumps to remove water remaining in the deeper parts of the houses, such as basements or wells, and assisting in the emptying and removal of furniture that had been damaged in the properties.
Bishop József Steinbach, Ministerial President of the Synod of the Reformed Church in Hungary (RCH), called for solidarity with the people of Transylvania who are facing this disaster. He says that even once the floodwaters recede, the long-term impacts of the disaster will be felt by the community for years to come, in the damage to buildings, the local ecosystem, and also the damage caused by the collapse of the Parajd mine.