Slovakia: UN agency assists asylum-seekers forced to flee burning refugee centre

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is providing assistance to some 40 asylum seekers in Slovakia who were forced to flee a fire at a refugee reception centre.

Flames reportedly broke out yesterday morning in Brezova pod Bradlom, which is 100 kilometres north of the capital, Bratislava. Refugee children playing with a lighter apparently started the blaze, a UNHCR spokesman told a press briefing in Geneva today.

Everyone was evacuated from the centre safely, but the wooden structure burned to the ground, Ron Redmond said.

“Some of those housed in the centre managed to take a few personal belongings, but most had to leave with only the clothes on their backs. The asylum seekers were taken to Gabcikovo, another accommodation centre east of Bratislava,” Mr. Redmond said.