Pabradė centre migrants cooked eggs in empty cans, report finds

Migrants at Lithuania’s Pabradė reception centre were forced to cook food and boil eggs in empty tinned-food cans because of a shortage of dishes, according to a report by LRT.lt. The report also identified wider problems with basic living conditions, healthcare, information, communication and freedom of movement.

Erika Leonaitė, Lithuania’s Seimas ombudswoman and head of the Seimas Ombudsmen’s Office, said the situation raised questions not only about dignity but also about hygiene and safety.

The Foreigners Reception and Integration Agency said the shortcomings identified in the report were already being addressed. However, LRT.lt was unable to verify this after the agency rejected a journalist’s request to visit the Pabradė centre, inspect its facilities and speak with migrants living there.

The agency said training sessions, events and work meetings were currently taking place, while some employees were on holiday. It offered to arrange a visit at the end of August.

Report identifies broad range of problems

The Seimas Ombudsmen’s Office produced an almost 100-page report on conditions at the Pabradė reception centre, administered by the Foreigners Reception and Integration Agency, and at the State Border Guard Service’s Foreigners’ Registration Centre.

The report documented problems in nearly every area of life at the centres. These included access to medical and psychological assistance, food provision, living conditions, information and interpreting services, communication with the outside world, and the ability to go outdoors and move freely.

It also recorded cases in which restrictive measures were imposed on all residents because of the actions of individual people.

Leonaitė said the problems extended beyond living conditions and reflected broader attitudes in society. She identified a lack of empathy and a human rights-based approach as the main issue.

She said negative attitudes towards foreigners often dominated public discussions. In her view, restricting the rights of foreigners did not protect the rights of others. Instead, undermining human rights in one context damaged the wider culture of human rights and the rule-of-law-based system.

Food and kitchen equipment shortages

The report identified several problems related to food, including insufficient calories for some residents, a lack of immediate choice between different types of meals, insufficient information about menus, and inadequate supplies of kitchen utensils and equipment.

During the inspection, some kitchens were found to lack dishes. The report said migrants had consequently used empty tinned-food cans to prepare food and boil eggs.

The average energy value of the food provided was approximately 2,400 to 2,500 kilocalories per day. This is sufficient for men aged 19 to 34 with very low physical activity.

However, some residents regularly used the gym, exercised in sports grounds or took long walks. The recommended intake for such people is 3,150 kilocalories per day.

The report said the food provided could be insufficient for people with low, moderate or high levels of physical activity. This was partly supported by complaints from foreigners that the portions were too small.