Székely Nép, 1999 (31-32. évfolyam, 43-44. szám)

1999-03-01 / 43. szám

by Dr. Alexander Havadtoy

ONE OF THE MOST TRAGIC

places of the old Hungarian homeland is the North-Eastern comer of the plains, called Carpatho-Ukraine today. Following the First World War it was given to Czechoslovakia with a strictly Hungarian population of 200,000. After the Second World War, the Soviet Union annexed it Immediately following the annexation, most men between the ages of 18 and 55, among them all the clergy, were taken to the Soviet Gulag as slave laborers. Very few of them returned. Many churches were turned into tractor stations or storage houses, and the population was forced into agricultural cooperatives. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the territory became a part of the impoverished Republic of Ukraine. Since the Ukraine is in an even more miserable economic condition than Russia itself, one can imagine the poverty in which the 200,000 Hungarian minority lives today.

AS IF GOD had turned his face away from these poor people, another tragedy visited them last fall. On the night of November 4-5th, the greatest flood ever experienced in this area inundated the valley of the Tisza River, which is inhabited primarily by Hungarians. The dams of the river, which were built by the ancient Hungarian regime, and which were not kept in good repair by the successive Communist occupation, burst completely, and the out-rushing waters came down so swiftly and with such power that no defensive action could be taken. The waters covered 236 villages and towns. One hundred and eighteen communities were completely under water. 39,592 buildings were covered by water, out of which 26,498 homes were severely damaged and 1,349 collapsed. 24,340 people had to be evacuated, while 18 persons drowned. Many of the children were taken to Hungary to schools, to friends and to church people to allow the parents to cope with the disaster.

Not only the towns and villages were damaged but also the whole infrastructure of the area. The flood completely destroyed 22 bridges, 340 paved roads and the Tisza dam in the length of 4.3 kilometers.

IN RAHO COUNTY, where the Hungarians are Roman Catholic, 36 industrial enterprises were destroyed, including the large paper-pulp company, and as a consequence 1,500 workers became unemployed. In the villages of Gyertyánliget, Koszomezo, Bilin, Tiszabogdany relatively fewer homes were flooded and only two collapsed, but the destruction of the factories is just as grave a problem.

IN TECSO COUNTY, which is also primarily Roman Catholic, the towns of Királymező, Busztura, Nemetmokra, Tarackraszna were completely isolated, and could be reached by helicopters only. The gift parcels sent to them were under the coordination of Father Imre Ferenc in Aknaszlatina and the Reverend Karoly László, the reformed minister of Tecso.

IN HUSZT COUNTY, 41 communities came under water. In the town of Huszt where there are 4,000 Hungarians and in Visk with another 4,000 Hungarians, 150 homes collapsed and 1,500 people became homeless. The aid station is under the direction of the Reverend István Delenyi. Their greatest problem is the feeding of the population.

IN NAGYSZŐLŐS COUNTY, 15 villages suffered damages. 4,594 homes were under water and 320 completely fell apart. In the village of Tiszabokeny, 80 homes were destroyed and 100 became uninhabitable, causing 400 homeless people. The most urgent task is the repairing of the 80-meter dam, which is still under water. In Fekete erdő the main concern is also the feeding of the townspeople. In Tekehaza and Királyháza, where half of the population is Hungarian, 100 homes were completely destroyed and 800 people became homeless. The rescue operations are under the direction of the Reverend Bela Felcskei.

IN BEREGSZÁSZ COUNTY the

greatest damage was in the entirely Hungarian Reformed village of Mezővári. Out of a population of 3,300 more than 1,400 became homeless. Five hundred homes were inundated, 210 collapsed and 300 became uninhabitable. The church is the center of the rescue mission under the leadership of Zoltán Kovács. In Csetefalva

221 houses became uninhabitable, in Sarosoroszi 50, in Badalo 10, in Halabor also 10, with 55 homeless. The aid mission is under the direction of the reformed Bishop László Horkai (Beregszász, Munkácsi u. 83 tel. fax. (003803141) 23460.

IN MUNKÁCS COUNTY the

Latorca River flooded the city of Munkács. In the villages of Varpalank and Beregrakos 170 homes were destroyed and several hundred people became homeless. The Roman Catholic Bishop Jeno Majnek and the retired Reformed Bishop, Lajos Gulacsi, are in charge of the rescue.

IN UNGVAR COUNTY, 8 communities were flooded and 367 homes suffered water damage. In the villages of Szaloka, Eszeny, Csap and Tisza salamon, from where so many ancestors of our Hungarian-American families in Fairfield County came from, the townspeople were successful in defending their communities from the flood.

THE HUNGARIAN GOVERNMENT and the whole Hungarian nation rushed to the aid of our unfortunate brothers and sisters. The Hunganan-Amencan churches and organizations also sent thousands of dollars through the Ecumenical Service of Hungary for the support of the aid operations. The need is enormous. The rebuilding of the towns and villages will require the sustained effort of the entire Hungarian nation and of our friends in the West. Otherwise the land, which was inhabited by Hungarians during the past 1,100 years, will loose its population

ON THE TOP OF IT ALL, in February of this year, the greatest snowfall covered not only the Carpatho-Ukraine but also the Northern part of Hungary. The villages became once again isolated, this time by the heavy snow. Only helicopters could remain in touch with the entire region. One can only shudder at the thought what the melting snow will bring upon these

many suffering people.________________

Your contribution could be sent to: Árvíz Károsultak, OTP Budapest VI Körönd Körzeti Fiókja Acc. # 11706016-20478269