The waters of the Danube and of the Tisza have already reached alarm level 3 out of the maximum of 4, with the water levels expected to crest towards mid-week. Faced with this risk of a natural disaster, the government has decreed a state of emergency in eight provinces in the north of the country, and has turned to its European partners with a request for assistance.

Switzerland has decided to come to the aid of Hungary with 500,000 bags for sand to reinforce the dykes, and will finance their shipment to the site. The cargo left for Budapest on Tuesday morning and is scheduled to arrive during the night. Three experts from the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit are accompanying the shipment, and will provide on-site assistance and advice to the Hungarian authorities. To finance these urgent measures, Switzerland has opened an emergency credit of CHF 350,000.

Federal Department of Foreign Affairs