Reception conditions brief monitoring report

At the beginning of May 2011, JRS Romania concluded the first round monitoring visit of all reception centres for
asylum seekers in Romania !ach centre "as visited once #$alati in %ebruary, Radauti and Socuta Mare in March
and &imisoara in May', "hile the Stolnicu (entre "as visited si) times so far
&he number of accommodated persons*centre at the moment of the monitoring visit "as the follo"ing+
1 ,ucharest (entre - capacity+ .00 places/ no of persons accommodated+ 101 #last visit'/
2 $alati (entre - capacity+ 2.0 places/ no of persons accommodated+ 21/
1 Radauti (entre - capacity+ 100 places/ no of persons accommodated+ 20/
2 &imisoara (entre - capacity+ .0 places/ no of persons accommodated+ 00/
. Somcuta mare (entre - capacity+ 100 places/ no of persons accommodated+ .
Problems identified +
1 Asylum seekers left "ithout legal assistance from 3$4s
5ithin the last 1 months #March6May' - "ith the e)ception of ,ucharest (entre - asylum seekers have not received
legal assistance from the 3$4s during the administrative phase of the procedure, due to the lack of funds since !R%
programs "ere discontinued
2 7nade8uate information provided regarding the accommodation conditions
Although asylum seekers are "ell informed about accommodation re8uirements, their rights and obligations, the
message is not al"ays understood lacking an interpreter or due to the 9specialised: "ay of presenting the
information 7n practice, they are informed mainly by their o"n community "ith the risk of distorting the initial
content
1 ;ack of information concerning 3$4s activities in the (entres
7nformation materials concerning the 3$4s current activities and contact details for asylum seekers are not posted
in a visible place "here all the beneficiaries could have access 7n some of the centers, the information is available
only at their o"n places*rooms of assistance
2 7nsufficient leaflets
&here are not sufficient leaflets for the information of beneficiaries both as 8uantity and also translated in sufficient
languages
. (omplains regarding the living conditions and the accommodation space
,eneficiaries complained about hygienic conditions of the kitchens and bathrooms
< 7nsufficient food allo"ance
All the beneficiaries complained of the insufficient amount of money received for food, currently around 100
lei*month #1. =S>' &he amount of money considered as being appropriated for a decent life "as evaluated
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bet"een 200 - 2.0 lei*month 7n the same time, it "as revealed the need for supplementary support for babies and
their mothers, pregnant "omen
? ;ack of clothes
Asylum seekers do not received clothes from the administration of the accommodation centers Rarely, they receive
donations from 3$4s
@ &he right to appeal against the administrative decisions #outside RS> procedure'
(ounseling "ith regards to the right to appeal the administrative decisions is insufficient 7n the same time, there is
no special regulation or procedure in place
0 Satisfactory medical care
Medical care is appreciated as being satisfactory, in general
10 5orking
Asylum seekers "ere a"are they can "ork after one year in the asylum procedure &his term is considered as too
long especially reported to the insufficient food allo"ance
11 7nsufficient recreational activities
Asylum seekers complained about the insufficient recreational activities 7n all the accommodation centers, the main
general activities "ere related to the lack of access to the 7nternet due non6functioning of the e8uipments, &A sets
are very fe" #1 or 2 &As*centre' &hese represent a source of conflicts among beneficiaries
12 Self6administration
&here is no organiBed form of participation of the beneficiaries in a self6administration
11 !lderly persons
Although there are regulations corresponding to their special needs, they are not applied due to lengthy bureaucracy
Actions taken:
All the problems identified "ere brought to the attention of the centre head staff as "ell to R74 - >A7
R746>A7 initiated a proCect proposal for amending the $overnment >ecision in order to raise the food allo"ance
JRS Romania submitted its position &he proCect is in the stage of approval at the Ministry of 7nterior
5ith regard to the problems identifies and "here financial means are not involved, the head of the accommodation
centers committed they "ill take the necessary actions to improve the situation, eg+ information, cleaning,
participation of the beneficiaries at the decision level etc
7t should be mentioned that JRS supported from its o"n funds the $alati centre the purchase of the necessary
e8uipment to be used in the 7nternet room for proper access
16.05.2011
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