Interior Ministry: We've Been Addressing Crisis in Stiavnik Since Day One

Bratislava, 14 August (TASR) – The Interior Ministry and its subordinate units, including the District Authority in Poprad, have been addressing the emergency situation declared by the mayor of Spissky Stiavnik (Presov region) since its onset on 22 July, the ministry’s press department confirmed to TASR on Thursday. The ministry stated this in response to a Wednesday (13 August) press conference held by Progressive Slovakia. According to the ministry, the Crisis Management Section is currently preparing steps aimed at defusing the situation and reducing tensions within the affected community. One such measure is the provision of temporary emergency housing, which the ministry says will also help contain the ongoing outbreak of scabies. Coordination meetings involving representatives from various state institutions have been taking place at the district authority. These include organisations under the remit of the Labour, Social Affairs and Family Ministry, a coordinator for child protection against violence, representatives of the Government Proxy for Roma Communities, and the Government Proxy for Civil Society Development. Non-profit organisations such as IPcko, People in Need, the Samaritan Association of the Slovak Republic, and the Slovak Red Cross are also involved. According to the ministry, these organisations are carrying out agreed-upon emergency tasks under the orders of the district authority head. The opposition party Progressive Slovakia has called on Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok (Voice–SD) to take action to address the crisis following the July fire in Spissky Stiavnik, which left more than 140 people homeless. At the press conference on Wednesday, MP Darina Luscikova (Progressive Slovakia) said that the situation in Spissky Stiavnik is yet another example of the state failing to protect its people. The fire on 22 July impacted part of a Roma settlement estimated to house around 1,800 residents. More than 140 people were left homeless and have since been temporarily accommodated in a community centre, primarily mothers with children. mf/mcs