Temporary Solution for Roma People in Ataşehir

Ataşehir District Governorship Social Assistance and Solidarity Foundation will supply 2,000 Turkish liras for the families, whose shelter were demolished, so that they can afford their moving expenses.

If the families declare that they move a flat for rent, they will receive approximately 550 Turkish liras per month during whole year. In the meantime, the governorship will continue to work for providing families with permanent council house.

The shelters in Ataşehir District where almost 100 Roma families had been damaged on 5 January by the municipal employees and they hadn’t even allowed families to take their belongings. The land families lived belonged to an individual.

The majority of families had obligatorily moved to these shelters eight years ago because their houses in Küçükbakkalköy had been demolished in 2006 due to urban transformation projects. Homeless families had built shelters in the environment.

4 days long after the demolishment, Roma people waited around the ruins in the coldest days of İstanbul.

The Roma has stated that landlords didn’t want to rent out their flats because they are Roma.

Nurhayat Bilgiç, chairperson of Anatolian Side Association of Protecting and Developing Roma People, asserted that the solution is temporary and their main demand is permanent council houses and they will continue to negotiate with the government about this issue. (MUY/ÇT)

* Click here to read the article in Turkish.