HUNGARY IMPRESSED BY U.S. HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE

UNCLAS BUDAPEST 000046 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR HAITI EARTHQUAKE TASK FORCE, WHA/CAR V DE PIRRO, IO/UNP B NARANJO AND M GARUCKIS, AND EUR/CE JAMIE MOORE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PREF EAID ECON HA HU SUBJECT: HUNGARY IMPRESSED BY U.S. HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO HAITI REF: SECSTATE 6918 ¶1. (SBU) PolOff delivered reftel message to Ministry of Foreign Affairs Cuba Desk Officer Istvan Sandor on January 25 and received a readout of Hungarian contributions to the ongoing relief effort. Sandor noted that Hungary was deeply impressed by the magnitude and effectiveness of U.S. humanitarian assistance to Haiti thus far and was contributing what it could to assist international relief efforts. To date, the Hungarian Government has contributed 100,000 Euros in cash assistance and sent a rescue team from the High Directorate of Protection Against Natural Disasters. This twenty-four member rescue team included equipment and medicine that was valued at $100,000. ¶2. (SBU) Sandor noted that Hungarian NGO, religious groups, and charity organizations had contributed the following: - Baptist Charity Service sent a team of six doctors; - Debrecen University of Medicine sent a six-person team; - Hungarian Calvinist Church charity service sent a six-person team; - Food for Life Foundation sent a four-person team; and, - Catholic Episcopal Conference sent a donation of $100,000. In addition, contributions from individual Hungarian citizens thus far to the Hungarian Red Cross, Hungarian Ecumenical Charity Service, and other charities have exceeded 47 million Hungarian forints (approximately $245,000). Sandor said he would keep us informed of further Hungarian contributions and said his government remained open to any specific requests from the United States. KOUNALAKIS