35 years standing with refugees - Photo exhibition on World Refugee Day

To mark World Refugee Day, we hosted a professional event accompanied by a photo exhibition showcasing how we support refugees from their first encounter with humanitarian assistance through to integration. Our experience over the past three and a half decades has shown that humanitarian assistance does not end when an immediate crisis is addressed. Meaningful support requires long-term presence, expertise and cooperation.

In his opening remarks, Kristóf Gáncs highlighted the twofold mission guiding Hungarian Interchurch Aid’s humanitarian work: providing assistance where crises emerge, while also ensuring protection and support for those forced to flee and seeking safety elsewhere. He emphasised that the organisation’s 35 years of experience demonstrate how joint efforts and solidarity can provide safety, dignity and hope to people forced to leave their homes. He also called on representatives of the diplomatic corps, government partners and civil society organisations to continue supporting this collective effort on behalf of people affected by crises. Bence Dékány, Director of International Programmes at Hungarian Interchurch Aid, spoke about the organisation’s decades of experience in supporting refugees and displaced people.

Representing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Klára Breuer, State Secretary, praised the work of Hungarian civil society organisations, in particular Hungarian Interchurch Aid, in supporting people forced to flee and communities affected by crises. She underlined the Hungarian Government’s commitment to humanitarian assistance and highlighted the importance of cooperation and dialogue with humanitarian organisations. Addressing assistance to refugees arriving in Hungary, Judit Tóth, Deputy State Secretary at the Ministry of Interior, highlighted the long-standing and successful partnership between the Hungarian Government and Hungarian Interchurch Aid, recalling the achievements of their joint projects.

Supporting refugees has been a central part of Hungarian Interchurch Aid’s work since its foundation. Our photo exhibition reflects this commitment and is also available to view online below.

The event was supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Hungary.