Prague, Oct 20 (CTK) – The conditions in the Czech detention centres for migrants, which Ombudsman Anna Sabatova criticised, have been gradually improving, Interior Minister Milan Chovanec said Tuesday, adding that his ministry and the Ombudsman Office would cooperate despite their disagreement of some issues.
Sabatova said she appreciated that the conditions for children would get better.
Chovanec said the facilities for migrants were being adapted in order to suit mothers with children, too. The interiors are being redecorated and new mattresses will be provided, he said.
The number of social workers in the facilities increased and the ministry is seeking interpreters for the refugees from the Middle East, Chovanec said.
He said it was a problem to find certified interpreters from some languages, however.
Chovanec said he and Sabatova held different views of some issues.
Sabatova is against the payments to cover the living costs that are collected from the foreigners and she does not like the presence of security guards in the buildings, in which the foreigners are living.
Last week, Sabatova presented the results of checks her office made in the detention facilities. She said the children lived in worse conditions than Czech prisoners. She said the children were scared by security guards and policemen who were always present around them in the facilities.
The police established some detention facilities for illegal migrants in empty former prisons.
In his first reaction, Chovanec dismissed the criticism. He said refugees had good-quality health care, clothes and proper catering in the facilities.
Sabatova told CTK that the talks Tuesday were a big step forward.
She said Chovanec promised that more social workers, psychologists and teachers would be available to the foreigners in the detention centres.
The ministry declared a tender for the provision of legal services for the foreigners, she said.
Sabatova said she insisted on that the Bela-Jezova facility is not appropriate for families with children.
She said she demanded that security guards did not work in this facility.
To prevent further criticism of the conditions in the detention facilities, the ministry will release photos and videos from the detention centres on its website, Chovanec said.
The ministry will also meet the request of ambassadors of European countries who called on it to organise a visit to the detention centres with journalists being invited as well, he said.
Chovanec said Czech MPs may visit the centres, too.
Sabatova and Chovanec are to have another meeting in November to discuss the development of the situation.
There are three detention facilities for foreigners in the Czech Republic: in Bela-Jezova, central Bohemia, in Vysni Lhoty, north Moravia, and in Drahonice, north Bohemia, with the capacity of 1392 beds in total. There are 521 migrants staying there now.
