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Lunik IX - inside the biggest Roma community (de facto getto) in Slova
Vladimir Zivojinovic

Lunik IX - inside the biggest Roma community (de facto getto) in Slova

Lunik IX settlement is located in the suburbs of Kosice. It is inhabited by 4000 to 4500 people. Living conditions are truly nightmarish. For now, the electricity is back to the settlement but there is still no gas or running water. The buildings and little, provisory houses are in real ruins. The garbage is everywhere. In all this, some people try to have a normal life (send kids to school, work, and try to keep their houses clean) while others only destroy, drink, take drugs and simply do not care. The majority of them live from social help, receiving around 200-250 Euros monthly per family. There is a little chruch (catholic mission) in Lunik IX, that provide help to few families, a school which almost 1000 kids attend, and a doctor for the youngests Lunikers. Because of the tragic living conditions and lack of education, health standards are very poor as well. Diseases are spread easily, starting from head lice, hepatitis, scrabies, up to meningitis, not to mention different kinds of drugs some of them are addicted to (even as young as 8 years old kids). Roma people make 10% of Slovak population. Yet, in the recent report human rights activists' groups stayted the country still fail to integrate and educate Roma children.

Photos
14
Status
Public
Created
Mar 14, 2017
Updated
Feb 09, 2022
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#Roma

Photos (14)

Cover
A view on Lunik IX settlement
File: A view on the Lunik IX settlement_Lunik IX_photo Vladimir Zivojinovic (1).jpg
A mother Lesana Turtakova 22 holding her baby Deniska
File: A mother is holding her 1 month old baby in her provisory house in Maslickovo, few steps from Lunik IX settlement_Lunik IX_photo Vladimir Zivojinovic (8).jpg
Baby
File: In 2-room provisory house, the Roma family of 7, including 1 month old baby, tries to survive another winter_Maslickovo_Lunik IX_photo Vladimir Zivojinovic (10).jpg
Inside the house of Julian's family.
File: Inside an apartment at LunikIX_VZivojinovic.jpg
Inside a catholic school in Lunik IX
File: Inside the catholic mission in LunikIX_VZivoinovic.jpg
Dancing
File: Inside the one-room apartment of a Roma family. Despite conditions, they try to keep it clean and warm and have some moments of joy_Lunik IX_photo Vladimir Zivojinovic (9).jpg
Roma kids playing outside
File: Kids playing outside_LunikIX_VladimirZivojinovic.jpg
Litlle Roma boy playing outise with a pillow
File: Little Roma boy playing outside with a pillow he has found in the garbage in front of the building_Lunik IX_photo Vladimir Zivojinovic (15).jpg
Marija, 13 years old.
File: Marija, 13 years old. She goes to school for Roma kids in Lunik IX settlement_Lunik IX_photo Vladimir Zivojinovic (11).jpg
Children attending the holy mass
File: Roma kids during the holy mass at Lunik IX settlement_Lunik IX_photo Vladimir Zivojinovic (4).jpg
Roma kids playing outside
File: Roma kids playing outside at Lunik IX settlement_Lunik IX_photo Vladimir Zivojinovic (3) (1).jpg
At Lunik IX, garbage is everywhere.
File: At Lunik IX, garbage is everywhere. Empty bottles, excrement, waste can be seen around people's houses. They throw them through windows. The smell in some parts of the settlement is very unpleasant_Lunik IX_photo Vladim.jpg
Youngsters making a fire in Lunik IX
File: Lunik IX's building are destroyed and very sooty - the lack of heating forces people to stoke inside. Youngsters (sometimes drunk or stone) set the fire around for fun_Lunik IX_photo Vladimir Zivojinovic (13).jpg
The only building own by the community
File: Roma kids playing outside. This is the only building, out of 8, that belongs to the Roma cominity. The rest belong to the city_Lunik IX_photo Vladimir Zivojinovic (6).jpg