Helping Hungarians Displaced by Red Sludge: Donation Information

The Hungarian government set up a damage mitigation fund to help Hungarians displaced by the red sludge flood earlier this week. Anyone from anywhere in the world can donate, Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced Saturday.

The red sludge disaster relief effort will help victims forced to flee their homes to move into new homes. With cracks appearing in the same reservoir responsible for Monday's red sludge flood, Hungarian authorities are completely evacuating Kolontar, the village closest to the disaster site and are setting up contingency plans for evacuating neighboring villages, euronews reported.

The Hungarian Embassy in Washington, DC published information on the relief effort for Americans wishing to contribute. The Hungarian American Coalition is collecting donations by mail at:

Hungarian American Coalition
Red Sludge Disaster Relief Fund
1120 Connecticut Ave., N.W., Suite 280
Washington, DC 20036

To make credit card contributions to the Red Sludge Disaster Relief fund, donors can call the HAC at 202) 296-9505 or (202) 828-8300 or send a fax at (202) 775-5175. All contributions are tax deductible.

Former New York governor George Pataki is spearheading the American effort to help Hungarians displaced by the toxic flood.

The Hungarian government said displaced residents will be given the opportunity to move into available homes elsewhere in Hungary or move into new homes in reconstructed portions of the villages destroyed in Monday's disaster.

Outside the United States, the Hungarian Red Cross and Hungarian Church Aid are among the agencies participating in the relief effort. Direct donations may be made by bank transfer to these organizations using the following bank information:

Magyar Vöröskereszt/Hungarian Red Cross
IBAN: HU37 1040 5004 0002 6547 0000 0000
Bank: K&H Bank
SWIFT: OKHBHUHB
please indicate: ISZAP

Magyar Ökumenikus Segélyszervezet/Hungarian Interchurch Aid
IBAN: HU42-1030-0002-5010-0126-2100-4882
Bank Neve: Magyar Külkereskedelmi Bank Zrt.
Swift: MKKB HU HB
please indicate: 10059iszap

Prime Minister Orban said in a press conference Saturday, "All of Hungary has been hit by this disaster, and all Hungarians have been injured no matter where they live, so pulling together becomes an issue of self-respect."

Pulling together to assist others hit by disaster is a familiar theme that extends beyond national borders. When Port-au-Price was destroyed by an earthquake, more than $6.8 billion was pledged to assist in immediate disaster relief and rebuilding aid. Donations came from citizens of more than 100 countries throughout the world as well as governments and relief organizations. When Pakistan was hit by floods this summer, citizens the world over likewise contributed to the relief effort. Hungary was among the countries donating aid to Haiti and Pakistan.

Sources:
MB
Euronews
Embassy of Hungary
Guardian- Haiti spreadsheets
Guardian- Pakistan aid data