In 1942, the Antonescu-led government decided to deport about 25,000 Roma to Transnistria. Many died there between 1942and 1944. More than half of all deported Roma were children: 12923. Today, the majority of the surviving Roma live in extremely harsh conditions and are socially vulnerable: they are old, sick, poor and receive no pension.

Nevertheless, Roma survivors can take advantage of Law 189/2000 RIGHTS, which provides that persons persecuted on ethnic grounds by the Romanian regimes from September 6, 1940 to March 6, are entitled to the following rights
a) free and priority medical care and medicines, both as outpatients and during hospital treatment;
b) free transportation on public transport - by means of state-owned companies (bus, trolley bus, streetcar, metro);
c) 6 free round trips per year on the Romanian state railroad in the 1st class;
d) 6 free round trips per year by public transport or, if applicable, by inland waterway from their place of residence to the county seat for persons who are unable to use the railroad;
e) one free ticket per year for a cure in a balneological spa;
f) exemption from the cost of TV and broadcasting fees;
g) priority for the installation of a telephone line and exemption from the charges
h) upon request, allocation of a free cemetery plot.

Few survivors are familiar with these legal provisions and therefore hardly able to take all the necessary steps (which are often too complex for them as seniors who are not supported by a specialised institution or organisation).