Prague main station is a camp of Syrians. Heading to Germany
“Walking to Germany… No money, no train, bus or taxi,” tells ZdraveZpravy.cz in the broken English of a young Syrian who has been spending several days at Prague’s main station with many other Syrians.
The main railway station in Prague has been serving as a “temporary home” for hundreds of migrants from Syria for several weeks. They occupy the benches and grassy areas of the adjacent Vrchlické sady park. They don’t directly bother passers-by, they have fun with each other, they often talk on the phone. However, it is not at all pleasant for travelers passing through the main station to see large groups of migrants bivouacing in public spaces every day. Few of the Syrians present speak any English. Salah al-Dīt is an exception.
“I’m from Syria. I came to the Czech Republic three days ago. We have no work, no food, the war destroyed everything. We are looking for a new life. In the Czech Republic it is good, very good,” says in podcast ZdraveZpravy.cz.
“I’ve been on the road for two months. We went through Turkey, Greece, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czechia. We walk. Everything on foot. It was a difficult journey, but the police in the Czech Republic is helping us. But on the contrary, with the police in Greece, Turkey, Macedonia, we had many problems when entering these countries,” says Salah [viz foto níže, pozn. red.].
When asked how he will get to Germany, he replies that he doesn’t know, but we will definitely walk. Nevertheless, he is determined to achieve his goal: “Today, tomorrow, I will go to Germany,” he says clearly.
What happens at the station is beyond us
Ondřej Moravčík, head of the press department of the Police of the Czech Republic, when asked by the editors whether Prague residents and visitors to the capital should get used to the fact that the vicinity of the main railway station currently serves as a camp for migrants from Syria, who have no money and suffer from poor hygiene, replied that the problem he is not on the side of the police.
“Responsibility for people in the vicinity of the main station does not lie with the Police of the Czech Republic, but with the municipality. In this case, in the capital city of Prague. In this case, the police of the Czech Republic can only perform services in the immediate vicinity. Which we do with maximum intensity and advanced ‘caring’ for refugees and people moving around the station is not within our competence,” explains.
In a similar vein for ZdraveZpravy.cz Vít Hofman, Head of the Media Department and Press Spokesman of the Prague Municipality: “We are closely monitoring the situation at the Main Station and follow the instructions of the Police of the Czech Republic. After all, the mayor is in contact with the regional director of the Police of the Czech Republic because of this. […] In our opinion, the situation must be resolved at the level of the Czech Republic and the Ministry of the Interior, which we are trying to initiate.”
He clarifies that there are currently no refugees at the Prague Central Station who come from Ukraine and are only passing through Prague or transiting on evening trains. What is the Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic doing in this matter [MV ČR]for ZdraveZpravy.cz said Hana Malá from the press department of the ministry. She first explained that the situation at the railway station Prague hl. the station is the result of a wave of illegal migration. She emphasized that detained migrants undergo a standard security procedure and, after the issuance of an exit order, stay on our territory for 30 days completely legally.
“Public order is monitored daily in the locality so that it is not violated both by foreigners and possibly towards them. The vast majority are foreigners who transit through the territory of the Czech Republic and stay in place for hours. They are not interested in staying on our territory,” she specified.
The news is that at yesterday’s [26.9.] meeting, the government approved the temporary restoration of control at the state border with Slovakia. In the first phase, according to Minister of the Interior Vít Rakušana [STAN] it will last ten days, i.e. until October 8. I wonder if they will solve this situation at the main station. And further, whether this measure does not come too late, when the Syrians have been a regular part of the Vrchlický orchards for several weeks. only of them, they do not stay in a given locality for hours, as stated by the Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic, but rather in large numbers. This means that they spend the night in the Vrchlické Gardens and do their natural daily needs at all.
Migrants from Syria are also dealt with by Prague 1. But it cannot do anything
Head of the Prague 1 External Relations Department Petr Bidlo for ZdraveZpravy.cz he stated that the bivouacing of Syrians in the very center of Prague affects them, but not directly.
“Basically, we take care of the coordination of social services, greenery in the locality, but this is a matter for the municipality,” he says.
According to him, a hundred Syrian refugees move to the main station every day. Those who leave for the German border will be replaced by new migrants. There are also days when there are over two hundred of them.
“That was last Thursday, for example. Fortunately, they are generally well-behaved. They don’t directly bother anyone. They occupy the benches, that’s true, but we have no information that they would be dangerous to Prague residents or visitors to Prague,” clarifies.
According to him, the problem is that there is pollution around the main station. For example, the Syrians were given blankets, which are often rolled on the ground, hung from trees or hung from the furniture of the Vrchlický orchards.
At the same time, Petr Bidlo confirms the information of his colleague from the municipality. Most of the migrants are heading to Germany. Their main routes lead through the Balkans and to us in the Czech Republic via Slovakia, Poland or Austria. The vast majority of them do not want to stay in the Czech Republic. everyone moves on. They are mostly men, but there are also children and women among them. Although you can be seen at the main station rather minimally.
The police of the Czech Republic is short on Syrians
Ondřej Moravčík, head of the press department of the Police of the Czech Republic, denies that the Police of the Czech Republic does not help and protect Czech citizens in the vicinity of the main railway station. At least in the sense that dignified conditions in the public space would be ensured for them. According to him, the police have enough competence in this matter.
“If a person commits an illegal act, the Police of the Czech Republic is authorized to deal with this. Competencies for any intervention are clearly established by law. And the fact that someone is standing in front of the station is definitely not a reason for our intervention,” explains.
In general, according to him, the Police of the Czech Republic acts preventively in the matter of Syrian migrants in the center of Prague. It informs them about the laws in force in the Czech Republic. She handles notifications that people share with her. And it also increases the number of police officers in the locality.
To a direct question, what should the people of Prague and visitors to Prague do, who day after day in the vicinity of the main station “make their way” among “loitering and inconspicuous migrants”, he then answers: “This is not a question for the Police of the Czech Republic. We proceed in accordance with the applicable legislation. But if you feel that this is not right, you should appeal to your elected political representatives to prepare a change in the law.”
At the same time, he assures the residents of Prague and its visitors that each of the migrants goes through the process of registration in the police databases. And he also has a limited time when he has to leave the Czech Republic.
“So it can be expected that the people from the main station will proceed in this way – and this is indeed happening – as well. It’s really not their interest to be out in front of the station in winter.” concludes.
Daniel Tácha