site.btaUPDATED Government Provides Accommodation for 33,000 Ukrainians

The Bulgarian government has provided accommodation in state-owned facilities for 33,000 Ukrainians and it will be available from May 31, the head of the State Agency for Refugees, Mariana Tosheva, told a news briefing Thursday. She also heads the government's coordination unit for Ukrainian refugees.

Tosheva said that a total of 59,085 people fleeing the Ukraine war are currently staying in hotels. They, however, will have to leave the hotels by the end of May to make room for tourists. By that time, the government will have to provide accommodation for the remaining 26,000 or so.

The facilities where the refugees will be moved, are owned by various state organizations. The Transport Ministry will assist with the logistics of relocation.

According to State Agency for Refugees, a total of 97,068 Ukrainians have been registered to receive temporary protection in Bulgaria. The total number of Ukrainian refugees residing in the country is 102,032.

The Bulgarian State has managed to provide shelter for all the Ukrainians fleeing the war over a short period of time, Tosheva also said, adding that some of the refugees who have found a job in Bulgaria can now rent properties for themselves and cover their own costs.

Tosheva also noted that the Agency suffered a hacker attack which weakened its systems.

Krasimira Velichkova, an adviser of Good Governance Deputy Prime Minister Kalina Konstantinova, said that the government has to ensure measures for the integration of the Ukrainian refugees and help them get back on their feet. For three months, all Ukrainian citizens in Bulgaria with temporary protection status will be provided State-paid mandatory health insurance with the National Health Insurance Fund, she recalled. 

Once the period of State-paid insurance expires, these individuals will be allowed to pay by themselves and continue to be insured. Children and the elderly will be provided State-paid health insurance until the end of their temporary protection status. A government decree will specify the aspects of the health insurance contributions. The subject is on the agenda of Thursday’s meeting of the Council of Ministers, Velichkova said.

She added that the government plans to introduce additional measures to promote employment. One of those measures envisages refugees who have found a job to be given additional financial support to pay their rents, Velichkova noted. 

Commenting on the issue of who will take care of children, especially those under 7 years of age, while their parents are working, Velichkova said that the government is working to help different civil organizations, companies or social activists to create day care centres.