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FM: Hungary to help Turkey rebuild following devastating earthquake

Hungary’s government has offered to finance the reconstruction of an orthodox church and a cultural center in Turkey following last month’s earthquake and will help rebuild a hospital destroyed in the disaster.

Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, said Hungary’s government has offered to finance the reconstruction of an orthodox church and a cultural center in Turkey following last month’s earthquake and will help rebuild a hospital destroyed in the disaster.

Addressing an international donors’ conference in Brussels to support the victims of the Turkey-Syria earthquake, Minister Szijjártó said Hungary will cover the costs of rebuilding the Syriac Orthodox Church’s St. Peter and St. Paul Church in Adıyaman. The Hungarian government will also finance the reconstruction of a cultural center in Osmaniye, which houses a permanent exhibition focused on Hungarian composer Bela Bartok, a ministry statement cited Minister Szijjártó as saying. In addition, Hungary will contribute to the reconstruction of a hospital chosen by the local authorities, he added. Meanwhile, Minister Szijjártó said Hungary has earmarked one million US dollars towards programs launched by Syria’s Christian churches aimed at helping those displaced by the disaster. He noted that Hungary sent search and rescue teams to Turkey immediately after the earthquake. The 167 experts and 29 rescue dogs Hungary sent to the disaster zone rescued 35 people, Minister Szijjártó said. Hungary also delivered 120 tonnes of hospital equipment to Turkey, he added. Minister Szijjártó expressed hope that Turkey’s reconstruction efforts would be successful, adding that the country’s chances were good, “knowing Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s level of determination”.