Prague, Sept 23 (CTK) – Czech soldiers will build a humanitarian camp in the military training area in Libava, north Moravia, to check their preparedness to face a possible strong migration wave, Defence Minister Martin Stropnicky (ANO) told journalists Wednesday.
In case of need, the Czech military could offer two “humanitarian bases,” or tent camps with a total capacity of 900 beds to help cope with the migration crisis.
The refugees could stay for about a month in the camps, where Czech soldiers would provide them with food, personal hygiene facilities and beds.
The camp for 450 people in Libava is being built by the engineering unit from Olomouc, north Moravia. It has to be completed and put into operation within three days of the issuing of the order, i.e. by Friday.
The camp will have its own wiring, toilets, a canteen and a medical surgery.
“I have proposed that the defence minister check the facility. It started to be built Wednesday and it will be completed on Friday,” chief-of-staff Josef Becvar told journalists.
“It is a preventive operation, we wanted to try whether we are capable of building a humanitarian base within the given period of time,” Becvar said.
The one-month operation of such a base costs five million crowns, not including the soldiers’ salary, he said.
For the time being, the military would not build such bases to complement the detention and other facilities for foreigners that have been operated by the Interior Ministry as their capacities are sufficient now, Stropnicky said.
He previously said the Czech military is ready to deploy up to 5,000 soldiers to protect the Czech border.
In this connection, a joint exercise of the military and the police is to take place by the end of September.
