Prague 9 demands that the municipality prepare large-capacity tents for refugees
According to the mayor of Prague 9 Tomáš Portlík (ODS), Ukrainian Roma are housed in the tents. Martin Kavka, the spokesman for the Prague fire department, which participates in the functioning of the KACPU, said that the deputy mayor of Prague 9, Adam Vážanský (ODS), inspected the tents today and had no reservations about them. The Prague KACPU has been housed in a building in Freyova street since April 14.
“Magist initially assured us that the tents would primarily serve the fire brigade. Today, they are mainly Roma from Ukraine. We fundamentally disagree with that,” said Mayor Portlík. “The director of the Prague fire brigade, Luděk Prudil, today welcomed the deputy mayor of Prague 9 Vázanský, showed him the tents of the emergency accommodation and there was no reprimand,” said Kavka, the spokesman for the fire department. According to Kavka, the tents are intended for emergency accommodation, they are heated and have deckchairs and sanitary facilities.
According to Portlík, the stay of Ukrainian Roma in tents on the territory of the Prague 9 district is problematic. The conditions in the tents are unsuitable for living, according to the plans of the KACPU organizer, they were originally supposed to function as waiting rooms for refugees who have not completed formalities, the mayor said. According to information from people who know the operating centers in Vysočany, refugees spend a maximum of one to two days in tents because they move elsewhere. Problems with Roman refugees in tents did not arise.
Refugees from the Roma minority usually request accommodation for larger groups. The Minister of the Interior Vít Rakušan (STAN) discussed the matter with representatives of Roma associations today, according to which Roma non-profit organizations will help in busy regional centers for refugees, in order to secure a better agreement. The minister said that the authorities have already found over 20 properties that could accommodate Roman refugees.
Since the beginning of the Russian invasion, the Ministry of the Interior has issued 308,170 visas to refugees from Ukraine. According to the executive director of the Romodrom association, Nikolay Taragoš, about 1,200 to 1,500 of them belong to the Roma minority, of which two thirds are children.