BLOOMBERG/ ANADOLU Hungary is spending £2million in an attempt to protect Christians in the Middle East

FREE now and never miss the top politics stories again. SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up fornow and never miss the top politics stories again. We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights.

Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s government has set up a special department to look after the Christians and stop them from becoming migrants. Mr Orban sanctioned the spend as Hungary prepares to fight the EU over mandatory migrant quotas. Minister of National Economy Mihály Varga told Hungarian news agency MTI: “The Government has decided to establish a €3million fund to assist Christian communities around the world that have suffered attacks.

This may not be a solution in itself, but the best strategy is to deal with the situation where people are coming from, which will mean less need for fences in Europe Ambassador Eduard Habsburg

“Protecting Christian communities around the world is an important criteria for the Government and the goal is to help families living in these communities.” Hungary’s ambassador to the Holy See in Rome, Eduard Habsburg, admitted the move is an attempt to tackle the migrant crisis at source. Mr Habsburg said: “This may not be a solution in itself, but the best strategy is to deal with the situation where people are coming from, which will mean less need for fences in Europe.”

TWITTER Ambassador Eduard Habsburg admitted the move is an attempt to tackle the migrant crisis at source

Department officials will visit Christians in the Middle East with £1m freed up for the office to “monitor, analyse, and obtain information on the situation facing persecuted Christians”. The Hungarian government hopes to promote stability in the Middle East and give people less reason to flee, easing the pressure on Budapest to take in migrants from Iraq, Syria and Libya. Mr Habsburg said: “Hungary considers itself Christian, and is interested in the situation of Christians all around the world.

ANADOLU Thousands of people have fled Iraq since 2013

ANADOLU Hundreds of thousands of migrants have made their way to Hungary

“It wants to extend a helping hand. “Somehow the idea of defending Christians has acquired a bad taste in Europe, as if it means excluding other people.” Hardliner Mr Orban agreed to set up the department following a meeting with Pope Francis. But it’s unclear just how the Hungarian government plans to protect persecuted Christians in the region. Advocacy groups have long campaigned for awareness and help from the international community.

GETTY The number of Christians in the Middle East has been decimated in recent years

The number of Christians in the Middle East has been decimated in recent years with just 180,000 Christians in Iraq today compared to two million in 2003. Hundreds of thousands of Christians fled from Mosul and the Nineveh Plains after Islamic State took the Iraqi city in 2014. Conflict in Syria and Libya has also caused unrest, with millions of refugees travelling through the EU’s open borders. Hardliner Viktor Orban has pinned the blame on the “elite” of the failing EU for the escalating migrant crisis.

Iraqi forces launch operation to recapture Fallujah Fri, June 10, 2016 A major operation to liberate the city of Fallujah, Iraq as battle against Daesh escalates. Play slideshow AFP/Getty Images 1 of 18 Iraqi Shiite fighters from the Popular Mobilisation units, monitor the frontline near the Tharthar lake, north of the city of Fallujah