The humanitarian and development work supported by Hungary in Chad under the Hungary Helps programme is saving lives and helping maintain the stability of the Sahel region’s last relatively stable state, said State Secretary Tristan Azbej for programmes aiding persecuted Christians, in an interview on public television M1.
Azbej, who recently returned from the African country, stressed that it is in Hungary’s strategic interest to help preserve stability in Chad and to launch projects that create livable conditions for its population. If the country were to lose its stability, he warned, it could trigger a migration wave of tens of millions toward Europe, including Hungary. ‘We must prevent this. The goal is not to bring the trouble to Europe, but to deliver help where the trouble is,’ he said.
He explained that the mission aims to support both local communities and refugees so that they can build a future in their homeland instead of embarking on the journey to Europe.
During his visit, Azbej focused on sites where ‘Hungarian knowledge transfer is taking place.’ These include an agricultural and livestock research centre described as a ‘Hungarian centre of excellence in Chad’, where specialists from the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences work with Chadian experts on drought-resistant fodder development and livestock processing technologies.
He also highlighted the work of doctors from Hungary’s Saint Francis Hospital, who organized pacemaker-implantation training in N’Djamena and shared experience in resuscitation and triage systems. Another milestone was the inauguration of Chad’s first early childhood development room, where Hungarian professionals are providing training—so popular that local experts could barely fit into the space.
‘The goal is not to bring the trouble to Europe, but to deliver help where the trouble is’
Azbej announced plans to launch an educational cooperation programme in the Lake Chad region, an area where, he noted, children often face the grim alternative of being recruited by extremist groups.
He described the Hungary Helps approach as guided by ‘a compassionate heart and common sense’, adding that the missions not only save lives but also expand Hungarian expertise. Doctors gain experience with cases rarely seen in Hungary, while agricultural experts develop climate-resilient technologies that could help mitigate drought damage back home.
Further humanitarian medical missions are planned for next year, continuing efforts that have already involved more than 50 Hungarian volunteer doctors. The state secretary stressed that all participation is voluntary and does not endanger Hungary’s healthcare capacity.
Azbej also rejected media claims in the opposition press that Hungary had sent tens of billions of forints to Chad under a tied-aid loan scheme. He called the reports ‘fake news’, stating that no loan has been issued. A general agreement exists that Hungary could finance development projects in Chad through loans, but only if three conditions are met: they must meet real economic needs, the financing must be secure and repayable, and the bulk of the investment must be carried out by Hungarian companies.
He underlined that the programme has not yet been launched and is still in the planning and negotiation phase, but he hopes such a project can eventually move forward.
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