Tent camps have improved the situation of Roma refugees in Prague. In Brno, they complain of pressure – ČT24 – Czech Television
A month ago, the hall at the main railway station in Prague was full of Roman refugees, with about six hundred of them sleeping there every day. Most of them were waiting for visas, mainly to verify dual citizenship. Today, however, the station hall is already half empty.
“To date, we have asked for an inspection in approximately 5,500 cases, with the result that we have identified approximately 150 people who actually have dual citizenship,” said police spokesman Ondřej Moravčík. This is also confirmed by the Minister of the Interior Vít Rakušan (STAN). “It simply came to our notice then. But in recent weeks it has been starting to increase, “he said.
The station was helped by a tent town
The hall was also emptied thanks to the tent camps that were established in the Prague districts of Malešice and Troja. For example, three hundred Roman refugees have already passed through Malešice, especially those who have left the original accommodation.
He tries to help the Roma in the tent town. “Either I have to find alternative accommodation with our help, but it really isn’t easy, or I have to consider returning to Ukraine,” said Martin Šimáček, head of the tent camp in Malešice and director of the Center for Social Services in Prague.
They are in the Trojan camp again, they have obtained visas and are waiting for accommodation. Since May 14, 651 mothers with children have used the tents there. There are currently about forty of them. “They are moving from the tent town to another standard accommodation, either to a hostel or even to individual flats,” described the director of the Romodrom organization, Nikola Taragoš.
Roma from the camp in Troja also go to refugee facilities in Vyšné Lhoty or Bělá pod Bezdězem. In total, there were almost three and a half thousand refugees. They usually left after two nights. Currently, there are over three hundred of them in these centers.
The Brno railway station also has problems
Many mothers with children of Roma origin are also at the main railway station in Brno. People sleep in tents practically on the ground, claiming that only volunteers help them. “The tents are leaky, now there were storms, so the children had to lie in a pool of water,” Kristýna Studená from the Grand volunteer initiative described the situation in Brno.
In addition, volunteers reported reports of pressure on Ukrainian Roma to leave. The last time, according to volunteers, it happened on Wednesday. “Officials told them that they were not entitled to any benefits, and if they did not leave this camp and Brno in the near future, they would take their children away,” said one of the volunteers, Jana Ustohalová.
Some of them left Brno that day, even though they were granted temporary protection. However, the municipality rejects the accusation. “In any case, there were no frequently described situations where the removal of children was threatened,” said Kateřina Gardoňová from the press department of the Brno City Hall.
The progress of the Moravian metropolis is criticized by Roman organizations, but at the same time they offer help. He sees the way in the Prague model, where they communicate with refugees in volunteer tent camps.