Last year during Christmas, around 200 Christians were massacred in Nigeria.Continue reading
The mission of Hungary Helps in Nigeria has been launched under the leadership of the State Secretary for the Aid of Persecuted Christians. Tristan Azbej announced the launch of the mission on his Facebook page on Tuesday, reporting from the scene.
The State Secretary stressed that Nigeria has been a priority location for the Hungarian humanitarian program for the past seven years. “This country, with its young and dynamic population and extremely rich human values, is facing serious challenges.
Humanitarian disasters, violent conflicts, slow economic development, and desertification are pushing the people living there into increasingly desperate situations, forcing many to choose migration,”
the State Secretary said. He added that in some regions, terrorist organizations are keeping the population in fear.
He praised the local authorities’ determination to fight extremism. However, he pointed out that
in recent years, Nigeria has been the country in the world where most Christians have been killed for their faith, with nearly 5,000 believers in Christ killed in persecution last year alone.
Hungary stands in solidarity with the Nigerian people, especially Christians who are suffering persecution,” said Tristan Azbej.
He noted that in recent years, the Hungarian government has provided significant support, amounting to millions of dollars, to the life-saving humanitarian and social services of churches in the region. “We have done this out of Christian solidarity and also to help the people living here to create their future in their own country instead of the dangerous migration to Europe,” the State Secretary explained.
He wrote that the purpose of his current visit is to personally assess the results of Hungarian aid, to learn about the basic needs of communities most affected by humanitarian crises and to lay the groundwork for new life-saving programs.
Azbej will meet with church and government leaders to discuss future cooperation, as well as with survivors of mass murder attacks.
“I would like to personally convey to our brothers and sisters living in the most difficult circumstances the message of the Hungarian people: we will not abandon them. They can count on us,” he underlined.
“I am grateful to all the Hungarian and Nigerian professionals who will look after us in the coming days. Thank you to the Hungarian Defense Forces for allowing us to reach humanitarian sites that we could not safely access otherwise. Follow our mission! Hungary helps – with a sensitive heart and common sense,” the State Secretary wrote.
Via MTI, Featured image: Facebook/Hungary Helps – Magyarország segít