Chechen refugee situation in the Vyšní Lhoty camp not criticalPetr Janouch (Prague Watchdog) - Statements about ”a critical situation bordering on humanitarian disaster“ and about gross human rights violations of Chechen refugees in the Vyšní Lhoty refugee camp, the Czech Republic, are not true, according to those who are familiar with the current situation in the camp, which serves as the country's main reception center for refugees.
“It’s not true that asylum seekers are deprived of mobile phones as has been stated by the Chechen media,“ said a well-informed source. “Nor is the information that their movements are being restricted; asylum seekers can freely move about the camp; the only exception is a protected area for women [without husbands] and their children, entry to which must be controlled because of security reasons.“
According to our information, it seems also untrue that asylum seekers don’t get enough food as vegetarian meals for Muslims are available daily and the refugees can also buy more food if they wish.
“The main problem is that Chechens are not used to the Czech cuisine and often don’t like the meals,“ explained a former employee of the camp.
According to him, the medical care is also adequate; but the problem lies with not having any female doctors in the camp, which causes difficulties for Muslims.
There did occur problems with the camp’s over-crowdedness but they were temporary and caused by a sharp increase of Chechen asylum seekers. Some days up to 200 Chechens (coming from Poland) registered in the camp. And its total capacity is only for 580.
According to official data provided by the Czech Ministry of Interior, since April the number of asylum seekers in the Czech Republic has risen from 600 a month to 900. The main reason is an increase of asylum seekers from Russia, i.e. mostly from Chechnya. And also Chechens have been the largest group in the past months asking for asylum in the Czech Republic.
“The situation might be related to the fact that some Chechen refugees have already paid smugglers for transport to Austria, and therefore they are seriously urging Czech institutions to shorten the registration process in the Vyšní Lhoty camp,“ an expert familiar with these problems told us.
Registration, including medical exams and quarantine, usually takes about two or three weeks, during which time refugees are not permitted to leave the camp. After registration, asylum seekers move to refugee camps.
According to an independent inquiry made by Islam Tekushev of the Caucasus Times, residents of the camp said that most of the allegations reported by the Chechen media were not in accordance with reality. However, they are really concerned about their children who require special diets.
In late August, some Chechen media published reports about an allegedly catastrophic situation in the Vyšní Lhoty camp and Chechen NGOs called on the Czech government and the international community to help settle the situation in this camp.
(H/E,T) |
