ANNOUNCEMENT

MEDICINE AND CLOTHS RELIEF TO HOSPITALS AND REFUGEE CAMPS IN THE VOJVODINA

RELIEF IN THE VALUE OF HUF 150 MILLION TO THE NEEDY IN SERBIA

Budapest, 14. August 2002. - Organized by the Quick Relief Foundation a relief delivery comprising 8 camions in the value of HUF 150 million (about EUR 600 thousand) was dispatched from Budapest to the Republic of Yugoslavia. The donors are: Foundation for Civil Protection, Baptist Charity Service and the Hungaropharma Joint Stock Company. The medicines, medical tools, clothes and camp equipment will mainly be delivered to hospitals and refugee camps of the Vojvodina. The Vice President of the Parliament of the Vojvodina, the Mayor of Belgrade and the Assistant of the Chief Commissioner for Refugee Affairs of Yugoslavia will supervise and guarantee the delivery of the aid to the determined destinations.


From Budapest, the founder of the Quick Relief Foundation and main organizer of the action, dr. István Székelyhidi dispatched, in the presence of the Consul of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Mr. Dejan Radulovic, the caravan of camions transporting the aid. Mr. Vilmos Szabó, political secretary responsible for Hungarian minority abroad from the Prime Minister's office was present, too.

Aim of the relief action is to assist the dozen of hospitals operating in the Vojvodina and the camps receiving refugees who escaped to the north as a consequence of the war. Primarily medicines are needed in the hospitals. At present, most of the sick have no other choice but to obtain the necessary medicine themselves. Furthermore, the most important medical equipment is also lacking. The remains of the war are distressing also elsewhere. More hundred thousands of people live also today in refugee camps in Serbia. Although they get the essential food and medical supply, medicine, blankets and hygiene means are available in very small quantity. The Foundation has gathered the necessary medicine, blankets, cloths, mattresses, food-warmers, etc. for them. The donors have wanted to ease their situation through this delivery of about HUF 150 million.

The Quick Relief Foundation operates the Organization of Humanitarian Activists (OHA) in Yugoslavia. The Organization helps - together with its Yugoslav partners - identify the actual relief needs and sees to it that the delivery be transported to the needy in full.

The Quick Relief Foundation announced that the next delivery has already been under preparation. Medicine for tumorous children, tools and equipment lacking at present at maternity wards, dialysis equipment for the handling of nephritic patients and food packages will be delivered.

Pictures (© Szabó Attila):

The Consul of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia takes over the Deed of Endowment at the departure
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The departure of the humanitarian aid
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Escort of the convoy by police
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The Yugoslavian and Hungarian representatives
(from left: Jovana Uzelac (Samardzic's daughter), Dr. Petar Stojic, Dr. István Székelyhidi)
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The founder of the QRF during an interview
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TV interview at the border crossing point
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Arrival of the aid to Novi Sad
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The Vice President of the Assembly of Vojvodina takes over the donation document
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Surda (Ljubisa Samardzic)
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More information: Zoltán Szabó, Phone: +36-1-351-1805, +36-1-351-1806