Director of Romodrom Nikola Taragoš has given an exclusive interview to ROMEA TV in the Czech Republic. “Our activity is limited to stabilizing basic needs. We are concentrating on a humanitarian program so they can at least eat regularly at certain times of day. Currently, with the onset of winter, we’re taking care of making sure they have a way to heat their homes,” Taragoš told ROMEA TV from Mukachevo, Ukraine, where between 14,000 and 17,000 Romani people are living.
The groceries are purchased by Romodrom right in Ukraine in order to support the local economy. “Naturally that is also connected to logistics, it would be demanding to transport everything from the Czech Republic. We buy clothes and groceries here,” Taragoš said.
According to the director, it is important to mind how aid is disteibuted directly on the spot. “We don’t have so many resources, so we have to be as effective as possible in our operations. What is happening is that as much as 70 % of aid here in Ukraine is lost because of clientelism and corruption,” he explained, adding that for the time being the financing of this assistance is happening just from private sources.
“In the Czech Republic, many Romani people from Ukraine encountered racism and rejection. For that reason, quite a few returned to these conditions. We are doing our best to make sure emigration to the Czech Republic will be limited somewhat through our aid directly in Ukraine,” said Taragoš.
