Fokus ROMI.HR

Milijuni Ukrajinaca prisiljeni su napustiti svoje domove nakon ruske invazije na Ukrajinu. Europska Unija usvojila je politiku otvorenih granica za izbjeglice. Romske obitelji iz Ukrajine također su u izbjeglištvu.

Prema službenim podacima, u Ukrajini živi oko 50,000 Roma. Međutim, organizacije koje rade s Romima u Ukrajini tvrde da su ti brojevi veći, čak do 300,000. Romi koji pokušavaju pobjeći iz Ukrajine u sigurnije zemlje suočavaju se s diskriminacijom čak i onda kad im je život ugrožen.

Kristina (41) iz Harkiva jedna je od romskih izbjeglica. Ona je u napadu ostala bez svoje kuće i druge imovine, kako je izjavila u intervjuu s Al Jazeerom, u Sportskom centru Manej u Kišinjevu (Moldavija), koji trenutno služi kao izbjeglički centar. Kad je čula sirene pokupila je djecu i otišla, zbog toga sa sobom nema nikakve službene dokumente. Izjavila je da je na ukrajinsko-moldavskoj granici morala čekati četiri dana, bez hrane i bez vode, i tek nakon četvrtog dana odobren joj je ulazak u Moldaviju. Prema BBC-ju, ukrajinske izbjeglice ne trebaju dokumente, i iako je bolje ako ih imaju, dobrodošli su u susjedne zemlje bez ikakvih problema ako i nemaju dokumente.

U dokumentu Europske Unije naslovljenom „Informacije za ljude koji bježe zbog ruske invazije na Ukrajinu“ Europske Unije, uvjeti za ulazak u zemlje EU su sljedeći:

Ljudi svih državljanstava koji bježe zbog rata u Ukrajini mogu ući u zemlje Europske Unije.
Ako nemate putne ili zdravstvene isprave – i dalje možete ući u zemlje Europske Unije.
Carine i veterinarske kontrole su ublažene: možete ući sa svojim stvarima i kućnim ljubimcima.
I dalje možete biti podvrgnuti graničnoj kontroli – važno je surađivati s vlastima.

Prema stranici Romea.cz, Romi i strani studenti drugih rasa, na primjer iz Afrike ili Azije, imaju poteškoće u bijegu. Volonteri, koji odvoze ljude iz Ukrajine, njima ne dopuštaju da uđu u vozila. Romima i pripadnicima drugih rasa nije omogućen ulazak čak ni u službene autobuse koji pomažu ukrajinskim izbjeglicama. Student iz Nigerije izjavio je da su morali satima hodati na hladnoći, a drugim je ukrajinskim izbjeglicama bilo omogućeno da se prevoze autobusom.

Romea.cz izvijestila je o slovačkom vatrogascu, zapovjedniku baze brigadiru Marianu Pouchanu, koji je reporteru rekao da romske izbjeglice „nisu imale razlog bježati i da su „zloupotrebljavali“ pomoć. Oni su iskoristili ovu situaciju; oni nisu ljudi koji se nalaze u izravnoj ratnoj prijetnji. Oni nisu ljudi koji žive blizu granice, oni su iskoristili priliku da mi kuhamo tople obroke za njih i da dobivaju humanitarnu pomoć.“ Jaroslav Miko, osnivač Cesi Pomahajija (Česi pomažu) pomagao je s prijevozom stotinu Roma izbjeglica, i izjavio je za Inter Press službu da volonteri i službenici nisu pomagali s prijevozom romskih izbjeglica.

Prema Europskom centru za prava Roma (ERC?), Moldavija je jedina zemlja u kojoj je dozvoljen ulazak Romima koji nemaju dokumente. Oni koji su uspjeli pobjeći u Moldaviju uglavnom se suočavaju s diskriminacijom i segregacijom u centrima gdje su Romi prisiljeni živjeti zajedno u sobama. U nekim je sobama smješteno čak 15 Roma zajedno, a u uredskim prostorima koji nisu u funkciji smješteno je do 60 Roma zajedno. U tim prostorima grijanje je slabo, i količina hrane nije dovoljna. Ne mogu napustiti Moldaviju kako bi otišli u zemlje članice Europske Unije, iako je Europska komisija najavila da bilo koja izbjeglica iz Ukrajine može zatražiti azil u zemljama članicama, a ne mogu ni raditi u Moldaviji jer nemaju nikakve dokumente.

Lijepo je vidjeti da se svijet ujedinjuje kako bi se pomoglo ukrajinskim izbjeglicama. Nadamo se da će pomoć također stići i do Roma i ostalih ljudi drugih rasa. Rat donosi smrt i uništenje. Kad se netko suočava s ratom kao žrtva, ne postoji „važnija“ ili „manje važna“ žrtva. Svatko tko traži azil zaslužuje jednak tretman, sklonište, hranu, prijevoz, i medicinsku skrb.

As a result of Russian aggression on Ukraine, millions of Ukrainian citizens were forced to leave their houses. European Union adopted open border policy towards the refugees. Roma families also became refugees that are escaping from Ukraine.

According to official numbers, there are around 50,000 Roma in Ukraine. However, organizations working with Roma in Ukraine suggests that number is higher, could be up to 300,000. Even when their lives are under threat, Roma refugees who are trying to escape from Ukraine into safe countries are facing discrimination.

Cristina, 41, from Kharkiv is one of the Roma refugees. She lost her house and belongings in the raid, according to her interview with Al Jazeera. They were interviewed in Manej Sport Arena that is currently being used as a refugee centre in Chisinau, Moldova. When she heard the sirens, she picked up her children and left, because of that, she had no official documents with her. She reported she had to wait 4 days at the Moldavian border, without water of food, before she was granted access to Moldovia. According to BBC, Ukrainian refugees do not need documents, even though its preferable if they have, they are welcomed without any problems at the borders in neighbouring countries.

European Union in their “Information for People Fleeing Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine”, entry requirements are written as;

People of all nationalities fleeing the war in Ukraine can enter the EU.
If you do not have travel or medical documents – you can still enter the EU.
Customs and veterinary controls have been relaxed: you can enter with your belongings and pets.
You may still be subject to border checks – it is important to remain cooperative with the authorities.

According to Romea.cz, Roma and students of different races such as from Africa or Asia are having difficult time trying to flee. Volunteers who are driving people out of Ukraine are not allowing them in their vehicles, as well as official buses helping Ukrainian refugees are not allowing people of different races and Roma in the busses. A student from Nigeria reports that they had to walk for hours at cold, while Ukrainian refugees were allowed in buses. Romea.cz reported that a Slovakian firefighter, the base commander, Colonel Marián Pouchan, told the reporter about Roma refugees that “They had no reason to flee and that they were "abusing" the aid. They have abused this situation; they are not people who are directly threatened by the war. They are people from near the border, they have abused the opportunity for us to cook them hot food here and to receive humanitarian aid" Jaroslav Miko, founder of the Cesi Pomahaji (Czechs Help), reported to Inter Press Service, (IPS) who he helped transporting 100 Roma refugees, confirmed that volunteers and officials were not helping Roma when it comes to transportation.

According to European Roma Rights Centre, Roma who are mostly undocumented, are not allowed in anywhere but Moldova. Those who managed to refuge in Moldova are facing discrimination and segregation in centres where Roma are forced to live in rooms together. In some rooms, there are up to 15 Roma together, in unused offices areas, there are up to 60 Roma living together with poor heating and with food insecurity. They cannot leave Moldova to go to member states even though European Commission announced any refugee from Ukraine can seek refuge within member states, or work in Moldova since they do not have any documentation.

It is heart-warming to see the world coming together to host and help Ukrainian refugees. We are hoping that helping hand will reach to Roma refugees and people of different races as well. War brings death and devastation, when facing war as a victim, there is no “more important” or “less important” victims. Anyone who seeks refugee deserves equal treatment, haven, food, transportation, and medical care.

Bibliography

Popoviciu, Andrei. Al Jazeera. 7 March 2022. <https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/3/7/ukraines-roma-refugees-recount-discrimination-on-route-to-safety>.

BBC News. 18 March 2022. <https://www.bbc.com/news/world-60555472>.

Romea.cz. 3 March 2022. <http://www.romea.cz/en/news/world/roma-and-other-people-of-color-fleeing-war-in-ukraine-face-discrimination-and-racism-jaroslav-miko-tells-romea-tv-that>.

Union, European. Europa.eu. 2022. <https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/default/files/information_for_people_fleeing_russias_invasion_of_ukraine_en.pdf>.

Lee, Jonathan. European Roma Rights Centre. 8 March 2022. <http://www.errc.org/news/ukrainian-roma-face-segregation-poor-conditions-and---without-documentation---nowhere-to-go>.

Holt, Ed. Inter Press Service. 9 March 2022. <https://www.ipsnews.net/2022/03/brutal-discrimination-adds-trauma-roma-flee-war-torn-ukraine/>.