A team from euronews-Hungary traveled to the far west of Ukraine, to Uzhhorod, on the Slovak border, to meet the founder of a Catholic NGO which helps those most in need.
In this Ukrainian territory, formerly Autro-Hungarian, one of the most active NGOs in the country has been working for two years to coordinate humanitarian aid in Ukraine. In Uzhhorod, on the Slovak border, we met Rudolf Balazhinec, the founder of Family of Christ International.
With its approximately 200 volunteers, it collects funds, but also clothing, food and even crutches which the NGO then redistributes to the most needy across Ukraine.
Former football coach turned missionary, Rudolf and his NGO host 120 refugees across the country and feed 9,000 people in need every day.
Rudolf believes that food is the key to ultimate victory, because when people are hungry or cold, they consider giving up the fight.
And to provide help, Rudolf does not hesitate to travel to the front line. With his team he claims to have already traveled 2.5 million kilometers and changed engines 12 times. He told us that recently his vehicle had received mortar shrapnel and that he had been rescued by a tank.
For lack of anything better and in the face of danger, the volunteers even made bulletproof vests.
“If you want peace, prepare for war”, This is Rudolf’s motto. He believes that no one can be a pacifist if their house is destroyed and their child killed.
Our report also gives the floor to the editor-in-chief of the Carpathian True Word, who explains the problems of this region where a Hungarian minority still lives.
Many people feared that the Orbán government’s pro-Russian policies would pit Hungarians and Ukrainians against each other in Transcarpathia, but this did not happen. Residents know that Hungarian society is on their side, many have sent donations, but this journalist fears that this will not become easier in the near future.
