One in three Roma in our country cannot provide basic …

One in three Roma and Travelers in our country cannot provide for basic needs, such as healthy food and heating. This was revealed on Wednesday from a study by the European Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) in six European countries. On average, Roma and Travelers in our country live 13 to 14 years less long compared to Belgian residents. The FRA therefore urgently demands more attention for these population groups.

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The FRA survey was conducted among more than 4,600 Roma and Travelers and focuses on six countries: Belgium, France, Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom. The results show that the living conditions of these wandering populations are not ideal.

One in four Roma or Travelers indicate that they cannot afford healthy food and heating. In Belgium this is even one in three. One child in five goes to bed hungry.

Discrimination

The wandering population groups are also often confronted with discrimination, according to the study. Children are often forced to end their school career early, which leads to an even more difficult position on the labor market. As a result, many end up in poverty.

The result is that the life expectancy of Roma and Travelers is on average ten years lower than for other residents from the six countries studied. In Belgium the situation is even more dire: wandering women live on average 13.6 years less, men even 14.2 years.

Chased away

Most Travelers (95 percent) in our country indicate that there is not enough room for them to live. Ten percent have already been chased away from their place of residence in the last five years. That is also the highest percentage in the countries studied.

The FRA therefore calls on the European Union and the Member States to ensure that the quality of life of Roma and Travelers is improved and is rapidly increasing their opportunities for quality education, which in turn leads to a better position in the labor market.

In Flanders and Brussels there are about 2,300 caravan dwellers, the figures for Wallonia are not known. The number of Roma in our country is estimated at about 30,000.

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