Caritas Hungary at the Forefront of Flood Protection Efforts

As many other Central European countries, Hungary is currently experiencing major floods, with the water level of the Danube exceeding the third-degree alert level in several places. Caritas Hungary (CH) immediately joined emergency efforts in cooperation with disaster management experts, allocating 10 million HUF (over 25,000 EUR) for the procurement of emergency supplies and damage control.

In the village of Nagybajcs, CH established a disaster relief base to ensure immediate response in case of heightened alert and to participate in restoration efforts once the floodwaters recede. Currently, the placement of sandbags is in process to protect homes and farm buildings from flooding. At the base, CH’s national director Gábor Écsy is personally participating in protection efforts.

In several locations of both the Diocese of Győr and the Diocese of Vác, Caritas volunteers are participating in filling and stacking sandbags, as well as distributing water and sandwiches to flood protection workers. In Vác, Bishop Zsolt Marton provided accommodation for professionals involved in the defense efforts and blessed the soldiers participating in flood protection. At the Stone Bridge in Vác, Caritas set up supply points where those working on the flood defense could receive tea, coffee, and food.

In the towns of Szentendre, Leányfalu, Süttő and Nyergesújfalu, volunteers from the St. Elizabeth Caritas Center of the Archdiocese of Esztergom-Budapest are providing logistical support and ensuring food for those stacking sandbags.

Pécs Diocesean Caritas is also actively involved in flood defense, particularly along the stretch of the Danube between the towns of Mohács and Dunaszekcső, where they are in constant coordination with local authorities. The floodwaters are expected to recede near the southern border by the middle of next week. The Caritas of Pécs is collaborating with other aid organizations, including the Hungarian Maltese Charity Service and the Red Cross, to assist the flood-affected areas as long as the emergency persists.