Luník IX

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Luník IX
Borough
Country	Slovakia
Region	Košice
District	Košice II
Coordinates	48°41′45″N 21°13′25″E / 48.69583, 21.22361
Area	1.063 km² (0.41 sq mi)
Population	5,368 (2005)
Density	5,050 /km² (13,079 /sq mi)
Postal code	04011
Area code	+421-55
Car plate	KE
Location of Luník IX in Slovakia
Website: www.lunik9.sk
Source [1]

Luník IX is a borough in the city of Košice, Slovakia, in the Košice II district. It is located in the western-central part of the city, surrounded by the boroughs of Pereš, Myslava, Barca, Juh and Západ.

[edit] Characteristics

The borough is the largest Roma community in Slovakia.^[2] Although originally built for 2,500 inhabitants, it is estimated that the population is now three times larger. The living standards are low, with services such as gas, water and electricity cut off, as the majority of inhabitants aren’t paying for rent or utilities.^[3] There are commonly health problems, with diseases like hepatitis, head lice, diarrhoea, scabies or meningitis.^[3] The unemployment in the borough is almost 100 percent.^[3] The borough has one elementary school and kindergarten.^[4]

[edit] History

The borough was originally built as a neighbourhood for army and police officers. However, a Roma village close to the borough was demolished in 1979 and the Roma were moved into Luník IX. As early as in the 1980s the Roma were making up half of the population, which was around 2,000.^[4] Over time, the non-Roma population gradually moved away, with the Roma taking flats after them, and the borough turned into a Roma ghetto.^[5] In 1995, the city council of Košice created a conception for the living conditions of dodgers, maladjusted and people from illegally occupied flats around Košice.^[4] They were to be moved into Luník IX, with the “non-problematic” families being gradually moved out of it, if they would request. The realization of this plan is on-going.^[4]

[edit] References