Baptists assist refugees fleeing to Europe

Baptists assist refugees fleeing to Europe

BUDAPEST, Hungary — Baptists are providing assistance to refugees who are streaming into Europe. An initial sum of $15,000 was sent by the Baptist World Alliance (BWA) through its relief and development arm, Baptist World Aid, to Hungarian Baptists to aid refugees in that country. 

The 2015 European migrant crisis arose through the increasing number of refugees and migrants traveling to the European Union across the Mediterranean Sea or Southeast Europe. A majority of the refugees are from the Middle East, such as Syria, Yemen, Iraq and in Africa, from Eritrea, Somalia and Sudan. 

Bela Szilagyi, vice president of Hungarian Baptist Aid (HBAid), informed BWA that HBAid’s temporary shelter is filled to capacity. He said medical assistance has already been extended to some 700 refugees. 

The Hungarians have distributed water and food at the Nyugati and Keleti train stations, as well as hygienic kits, medicine, disinfectants, diapers, baby food and toys. 

In Germany, Thomas Klammt, commissioner for immigrants and refugees of the Union of Evangelical Free Churches in Germany, said, “Many of our churches are busy responding to the challenge in many different ways.” 

Christians and churches in Sweden are supporting refugees as well.

(BWA)