Roma in Ostrava report unequal treatment during aid provision after the flood, Labor Office faces criticism, Czech Government Commissioner for Roma Minority Affairs is addressing the situation
After the recent flooding in Ostrava, Czech Republic, the number of Romani residents there is growing who are alleging that they are being inadequately and unequally treated during the provision of the Exceptional Immediate Aid benefit by the Labor Office there. According to the testimonies of some Romani people who have lost their property to the flood, the conditions for accessing assistance are discriminatory and the approach taken toward them by Labor Office staffers was arrogant in some cases. Czech Government Commissioner for Roma Minority Affairs Lucie Fuková immediately began addressing the situation. News server Romea.cz is seeking a statement from the Labor Office.
In the Municipal Department of Ostrava-Přívoz, for example, people are being warned in advance that they will not be given more than CZK 30,000 [EUR 1,200] even if their apartments have been completely destroyed. “They told me the maximum I can get is CZK 30,000 because the maximum amount of CZK 72,900 [EUR 2,900] can only be given to those who are finding new housing, to cover the initial costs and arrange for basic equipment,” one Romani woman affected by the flood told news server Romea.cz, who went on to say that the bureaucrat had treated her arrogantly and did not want to provide her with any further information.
“The principle of equal treatment and the principle of proportionality require that aid chiefly reflects the situation that has transpired with a view to what will happen next. In short, it should never happen that if somebody decides to move house, he or she will get more money, while those who decide to return to a flooded property receive less money,” said Jan Husák of the Romodrom organization, which is currently assisting in areas such as Krnov, Opava, Ostrava and Přerov.
Other Romani flood victims in Ostrava are complaining of excessive bureaucracy that contradicts the statements by the highest government representatives that aid to flood victims should be fast. While decisions for flood victims’ benefits are supposed to be made on the basis of photo documentation and confirmation of residence, local authorities in Ostrava are requiring many other documents such as leases, documentation of income, or proof of purchase for destroyed items. This is complicating the process even for those who are already identifiable in the system and about whom the authorities already have enough information.
One flood victim is the well-known Romani activist Elena Gorolová, who has long advocated for the rights of Romani people in the Czech Republic. “I went to the Labor Office to request Extraordinary Aid, but I encountered bureaucratic obstacles. They said that I had to provide a copy of my rental contract for the apartment that was flooded even though it was clear that I can’t access the apartment now. The Labor Office staffers were unprepared for this situation and behaved arrogantly,” she told news server Romea.cz. Gorolová has long advocated for compensation for Romani women who have been forcibly sterilized and her work has been internationally recognized.
“The lady treated me as if I were somebody who just draws welfare and doesn’t work. Instead of the relevant aid, she gave me the address of a place to get donated clothes. I’ve been working for 30 years,” Gorolová said angrily.
The situation varies from place to place. According to news server Romea.cz, in the town of Opava bureaucrats are making these decisions immediately and verbally on the basis of photographic documentation of damages and releasing the full amount of CZK 72,900 [EUR 2,900] to applicants.
Commissioner Fuková has started addressing the situation. “On the basis of complaints I intervened with the Labor Office management, which corrected the situation in collaboration with the Regional Romani Coordinator. The most-afflicted areas in Ostrava, for example, Přívoz, according to the words of the Regional Romani Coordinator, are going to be visited by a mobile team that will undertake a field assessment so there won’t be complications with documenting property damage. There will also be staffers from NGOs on the scene to prevent conflicts and misunderstandings,” Fuková told Romea.cz.
The Commissioner recalled that during the weekend she had called on the Regional Romani Coordinators to intensively collaborate with NGOs working in these regions. “I would like to thank the organizations Romodrom, SPOLEČNĚ-JEKHETANE [TOGETHER] and Vzájemné soužití [Life Together], which work on the spot, as well as the Romani leaders who are tirelessly aiding people,” she said.
