Housing Crisis in a Hungarian Romani Settlement Due to Environmental Damage: The Case of the Municipality of Recsk and a Local Mine

This study is a compilation of recent articles from the Hungarian press about the case of Recsk, a settlement in northern Hungary where Andesite-Bau Ltd., was awarded a permit to operate during the Covid-19 pandemic. The mining pushed ahead despite being in close proximity to its Romani neighbours....

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Main Author: Judit Berecz Bari
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Romani Studies Program at Central European University 2025-04-01
Series:Critical Romani Studies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://crs.ceu.edu/index.php/crs/article/view/195
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author Judit Berecz Bari
author_facet Judit Berecz Bari
author_sort Judit Berecz Bari
collection DOAJ
description This study is a compilation of recent articles from the Hungarian press about the case of Recsk, a settlement in northern Hungary where Andesite-Bau Ltd., was awarded a permit to operate during the Covid-19 pandemic. The mining pushed ahead despite being in close proximity to its Romani neighbours. Individuals were traumatised and their property was damaged by the mine’s explosives; later, deforestation at the site resulted in a mudslide which inundated Romani streets below the mine. Environmental racism is at play at this contested site, for neither before the mine opening nor after the mudslide did any Recsk villagers contribute to a relocation of Romani families to safer areas. To this day, victims have not received compensation or been able to move to safe residences. The owner of the mine project does not admit any wrongdoing, although an official investigation found that the mine caused the damage. Compensation offered by the government has not been forthcoming, and housing solutions offered by the state impose additional financial burdens on the victims. It is difficult to find a legal basis that would provide a satisfactory solution to the affected community.
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spelling doaj-art-ca116b5b9a8d479ca8bbd01d60777f392025-08-20T03:13:45ZengRomani Studies Program at Central European UniversityCritical Romani Studies2560-30192630-855X2025-04-017110.29098/crs.v7i1.195Housing Crisis in a Hungarian Romani Settlement Due to Environmental Damage: The Case of the Municipality of Recsk and a Local MineJudit Berecz Bari0Hiszako Indie Creative Development AgencyThis study is a compilation of recent articles from the Hungarian press about the case of Recsk, a settlement in northern Hungary where Andesite-Bau Ltd., was awarded a permit to operate during the Covid-19 pandemic. The mining pushed ahead despite being in close proximity to its Romani neighbours. Individuals were traumatised and their property was damaged by the mine’s explosives; later, deforestation at the site resulted in a mudslide which inundated Romani streets below the mine. Environmental racism is at play at this contested site, for neither before the mine opening nor after the mudslide did any Recsk villagers contribute to a relocation of Romani families to safer areas. To this day, victims have not received compensation or been able to move to safe residences. The owner of the mine project does not admit any wrongdoing, although an official investigation found that the mine caused the damage. Compensation offered by the government has not been forthcoming, and housing solutions offered by the state impose additional financial burdens on the victims. It is difficult to find a legal basis that would provide a satisfactory solution to the affected community. https://crs.ceu.edu/index.php/crs/article/view/195Environmental justiceHousing securityHuman rightsMiningRacismRoma
spellingShingle Judit Berecz Bari
Housing Crisis in a Hungarian Romani Settlement Due to Environmental Damage: The Case of the Municipality of Recsk and a Local Mine
Critical Romani Studies
Environmental justice
Housing security
Human rights
Mining
Racism
Roma
title Housing Crisis in a Hungarian Romani Settlement Due to Environmental Damage: The Case of the Municipality of Recsk and a Local Mine
title_full Housing Crisis in a Hungarian Romani Settlement Due to Environmental Damage: The Case of the Municipality of Recsk and a Local Mine
title_fullStr Housing Crisis in a Hungarian Romani Settlement Due to Environmental Damage: The Case of the Municipality of Recsk and a Local Mine
title_full_unstemmed Housing Crisis in a Hungarian Romani Settlement Due to Environmental Damage: The Case of the Municipality of Recsk and a Local Mine
title_short Housing Crisis in a Hungarian Romani Settlement Due to Environmental Damage: The Case of the Municipality of Recsk and a Local Mine
title_sort housing crisis in a hungarian romani settlement due to environmental damage the case of the municipality of recsk and a local mine
topic Environmental justice
Housing security
Human rights
Mining
Racism
Roma
url https://crs.ceu.edu/index.php/crs/article/view/195
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