Minority groups and refugees are some of the hardest-hit people in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The Roma people, the largest ethnic minority in Europe, are not exempt. Tanzia Haq reports.
The majority of the ten million Roma population do not have access to running water, live in cramped neighbourhoods and are facing the combined risks of economic hardship, poor social distancing abilities and lack of recognition for their problems due to being a minority.
The Roma community’s higher chances of contracting infection has also put the countries of Bulgaria, Hungary, Italy, Romania, Slovakia and Spain at risk due to their proximity. Due to their cramped living situations, Roma communities in Bulgaria and Slovakia have already been declared infection hotspots and cut off from the rest of the countries.
Human rights activists have declared that some of the restrictions placed on the Roma communities are highly discriminatory.
Zeljko Jovanovic, who is leading the Open Society Roma initiative has said: “Even if there was some justification for concern, the security measures have not been followed up by proper health measures and social aid measures. A lot of people were left without water and medication,”
