when we talk about our problems
other people think that we're over
exaggerating the things
but no we really live in the gender
i felt that i was isolated from the
outside
world only because being aroma
across europe roma communities are often
shunned
and neglected now kovid 19 has left them
struggling to survive do you feel like
you've been abandoned
[Music]
you can see from here the neighborhood
mischev has lived in this roma
settlement in bulgaria
all his life this is the only one
entrance and exit the settlement is
segregated from the town
cut off by the railway and when the
pandemic started the local authority
locked this entrance
this is the lock preventing actually the
people from
going out or entering the neighborhood
as we head deeper in the conditions
drastically deteriorate
we don't have water usually we don't
have electricity
we don't have roads we have like
dirt and mud it's the size of a town
25 000 people live here it's overcrowded
and fending off a virus is nearly
impossible
people cannot keep themselves safe
let's say you need ambulance anglers
cannot enter here
foreign
[Music]
people here were even blamed for an
outbreak of the virus
meaning no one will hire them anymore
and many are struggling to access
any government support people here don't
find sustainable jobs they are trying to
just get some money for their bread for
the day
we're entering the poorest part of the
neighborhood
my name is michael hi michael
my name is jean my name is george
puccino
the children used to eat at school but
the schools are shut
and with no internet no technology they
can't learn either
online
[Music]
m
the bulgarian government says it's
working with communities to identify and
support vulnerable families
providing them with food parcels and
extra teaching
but as the rain pours problems melt
documents
now it's like once or twice per week
i just feel like
sad at the moment because we don't have
electricity no we don't have the water
to offer you
anything to drink and um it's uh
it's a pity you know
it must be tough getting through a
pandemic without water
it's awful
if you don't have a water how you gonna
clean yourself
some of the community have escaped
poverty with seasonal work in the uk
melina was a fruit picker for five years
but the pandemic forced her back home
where discrimination stops her from
getting work
praise
[Music]
the rain is relentless
the town is starting to flood
as you can see the streets there is no
street accident there is a lake
the water is to your knees
[Music]
the state is not considering us like
citizens do you feel like you've been
abandoned
out
i believe that the state is like a
mother for us you know
she should think about us
should help us when we're in a need
and it's not happening
you