Nearly 50,000 Ukrainians have so far stayed in Bulgaria, over 20 registration points for temporary protection

There are now more than 20 points in Bulgaria where registration cards for temporary protection are issued to those fleeing the war in Ukraine. Apart from the two border checkpoints at Rousse and Durankulak, the important document can be obtained at the railway station in Sofia, as well as at the regional or district offices of the Ministry of Interior in Nessebar, Pomorie Bourgas, Svilengrad, Blagoevgrad.

The map with the new locations is continuously updated and supplemented on the government portal. In addition to these data, the official website https://ukraine.gov.bg/bg/ also provides daily reports on the number of people arriving from Ukraine, how many of them stay and are accommodated in the country.

More than 100,000 Ukrainians have entered Bulgaria, of whom nearly 50,000 have remained in Bulgaria. So far, about 1,500 have temporary protection, about 700 people have been registered as seeking international protection and as many more have submitted applications to the State Agency for Refugees.

More than 25,000 people have already received shelter under the terms of the government-approved programme for BGN 40 per day.

The National Tourist Register has registered 99 accommodation places under the programme, with a capacity of nearly 21,000 beds.

All the necessary medical care for those coming to Bulgaria is provided by the Ministry of Health. A telephone line for referral to medical facilities is operational. The children will be included in a specially prepared immunisation calendar, in line with the Ukrainian one, in order to meet the health requirements for entering a kindergarten or school.

The Ministry of Labour and Social Policy is the institution to assist those who wish support, through the Social Assistance Directorate. The condition is to have an identity document, then to be attached to a specific place of residence, in order to receive a one-off support of 375 BGN, as persons at risk. If their stay lasts until the next heating season, they will also have heating allowance. They are entitled to a supplementary payment if they have children staying with them.

There is a register of children who have requested asylum status, there are no reports of temporary protection being requested yet.

So far, there have been 2 unaccompanied children and 96 accompanied children. When an adult and a child enter Bulgaria, the adult is required to declare that he/she wants to take care of that child.

The Ministry of Innovation is actively negotiating with Bulgarian employers, the estimated prospect for the number of jobs is 200,000. The Employment Agency is researching the job needs of the new arrivals, a special section on the Agency's website Job Opportunities for Ukrainian Citizens (surveys for job seekers and job offerers) is continuously updated.

Officers of the regional directorates of the Ministry of the Interior are in constant contact with Ukrainians who have arrived, with a view to providing information, protection and peace of mind in the settlements. Transportation for those in need from each initial reception point to a place of accommodation on the territory of the country is provided by the General Directorate of Fire and Emergency Safety. The organisation of the border crossing points is focused on speedy registration of those fleeing the war and, in parallel, strict border controls to assess whether any of the persons entering the country would be a potential threat to national security. A risk profile and a detailed protocol have been developed for the implementation of the Border Police's activities in emergency conditions.

Bulgaria and 24 other EU Member States are providing a temporary protection regime for Ukrainians fleeing the war; more than 3 million have left the territory of Ukraine so far.

The European Union has already approved a legislative proposal allowing Member States to use unspent funds from operational programmes until 2020 to cover the temporary protection status.

Bulgaria also has such funds available.

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