#InternationalRomaDay - Europe's largest minority group most vulnerable to #Coronavirus

An estimated 10 to 12 million Roma live in Europe, making up the continent's largest minority group. They are also some of the most vulnerable to the COVID-19 outbreak, writes Zeljko Jovanovic.

Roma in central and eastern Europe often live in very cramped conditions without access to basic sanitation or running water. They are often poor and work in informal sectors. They are the first ones to lose jobs and last to get access to masks or health centres. Moreover, instead of providing aid, many governments in Europe have  resorted to police checks and restrictive measures, being implemented by force.

According to Reuters, Hungarian Roma have begun to report increased tensions, including discrimination as layoffs begin to hit the economy. Meanwhile, in Bulgaria, they are, disproportionately, subjected to police checks.

Zeljko Jovanovic, director of the Open Society Roma Initiatives Office, is worried about the Roma in Hungary.

He said: “On 30 March, the Fidesz parliament passed an emergency law granting the government indefinite, far-reaching powers. This came within weeks of Prime Minister Orban and government spokesperson Zoltan Kovacs attacking the Roma community and announcing a Roma Consultation. When a Hungarian court ruled the government owes compensation for unlawful school segregation, the government retaliated by saying it will overrule the court.

“The regime of PM Orban has continued to force Roma into deeper poverty and increased discrimination. With the new and unlimited powers and the coronavirus outbreak, the situation could become worse. Roma families have far less money to buy masks, medication, and food. They live in overcrowded homes which make it harder to follow physical distancing. Many, who earned a daily wage before the crisis—street vendors, musicians, factory workers, those who collect recyclables—were amongst the first ones to lose their income. Too many Roma communities are without water and sewage and are located too far from the health centres. It is a truly worrying time for them, especially without proper government help.”

The community, which suffers racism and discrimination at the best of times, is now being treated with even more stigmatization. According to DW, authorities in Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria have introduced additional restrictions to put Roma communities under quarantine, sometimes resorting to the use of police and military force. Roma rights groups across Europe are alarmed.

Jovanovic is urging governments to help the vulnerable community. " What is needed most urgently is to make sure that water, food and medications are supplied to the most remote and poorest communities. Most of the communities depending on public work schemes and the informal economy will not be able to survive the lock-down and physical distancing measures. They need government support, not discrimination or segregation.

Governments should understand that unemployment among Roma is bad for the whole economy, and right-wing extremist attacks against Roma are bad for democracy. The poor health conditions for Roma have direct and immediate consequences for non-Roma."

Zeljko Jovanovic is director of the Open Society Roma Initiatives Office. 

Share this article: