Prague has almost no place for refugees. Hours await your accommodation
“It took us three days to get there, we drove through Poland. Previously, we were surrounded by Russian troops in Kiev trapped. On the way from Kiev, we saw broken cars and soldiers lying on the ground. It was terrible, “said Refugee Victoria, who went to the Congress Center on Tuesday to register for a visa.
She fled Ukraine with her daughters, who are ten and seventeen, and also with her mother-in-law. “My husband went to fight in the army. Defending now Kyiv stated, “a. She would like to find a job in the Czech Republic soon, but she hopes to be able to return home to Ukraine soon.
The Assistance Center for Ukrainian Refugees in Vyšehrad is working properly
Photo: Jan Handrejch, Právo
“Our house is still standing, but we do not know what will happen in the next hours and days. In any case, it is difficult to be a refugee. I am grateful that Europe treats us with respect. I am grateful to the Czech Republic and Poland for accepting us, but at the same time I feel bitter that I had to leave home and become a refugee. We did not deserve such a fate, “she added.
The Prague Assistance Center, which operates non-stop, will receive 3,000 people a day, compared to 2,945 refugees on Monday.
“People from Ukraine are brought here from the Central Station, or they can get here by subway. In the congress hall, which can accommodate several hundred to thousands of people, to whom interpreters will help to pre-fill basic documents. Subsequently, we gradually send them on, where basic things take place, such as the foreign police, the insurance company and the labor office, “said Martin Kavka, a spokesman for the Prague fire brigade.
Those arrivals who do not have secured accommodation, often take long hours to find a place for them. According to the mayor of the capital Zdeněk Hřiby, Prague can reach the limit of accommodation capacities in a matter of tens of hours.
“Gradually, gyms are being activated, but it takes some time, they have to equip, prepare. What we received from the State Administration of Material Reserves, such as sleeping bags and sunbeds, has long been in the field, “he told Novinky.
According to him, it is necessary to create a clear system of accommodation for Ukrainian refugees in individual regions.
“We need to finance so that it is motivating in other regions to make it available for accommodation there, and we could have a mandatory relocation mechanism from Prague to other assistance centers if one requires accommodation,” Hřib said.
He added that the state should create a central information system for registered refugees, to which all components, including local government or non-profit organizations, should have access.
It also wants to increase the current state contribution for the accommodation of refugees in boarding houses or hostels, which is based on 180 crowns for an adult and 100 crowns for a child per day. The city has to pay extra for the accommodation of refugees.
“We are not able to buy here for 180 crowns. Of course, we have been contracting for more than 180 crowns for a long time, but this always has some limits, “said the mayor. “So far, we have exhausted millions of crowns, but of course, if we pay extra for accommodation, it will start to jump very quickly,” he added.
The increase of the contribution will be discussed on Wednesday, according to the Minister of the Interior Vít Rakušan (STAN) it should increase to 250 crowns in the case of boarding houses and hostels, another third could be given by the regions, which would increase the contribution to more than 300 crowns.