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

Abstract

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.