site.btaUNHCR Senior Emergency Coordinator for BTA: Bulgaria Among Quickest in EU to Provide Protection to Ukrainians

In an interview for BTA, the Senior Emergency Coordinator in Bulgaria of the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Takeshi Moriyama, said that Bulgaria is among the EU Member States that were the quickest to provide temporary protection to those fleeing the war in Ukraine. Nearly 300,000 people have entered this country since the start of the conflict in late February, and one-third of them have remained and have sought temporary protection, he noted. 

This means that all Ukrainian refugees in Bulgaria can live here, enroll their children in school, have access to the labour market and healthcare services, and receive aid, he went on to say. 

The UNHCR welcomes the Government’s continued commitment to host Ukrainian refugees and provide them with vital assistance while they wait for safety and peace at home. Together with its humanitarian partners, UNHCR is also scaling up its support to Bulgaria’s response – helping in coordination, in delivering essential aid to the most vulnerable, and strengthening Bulgaria’s protection capacity.

The UNHCR also welcomes Bulgaria’s efforts to promote the economic inclusion of Ukrainian refugees. Over 4,000 of them have found a job in this country, which allows them to cover their families’ needs, maintain their dignity, become more resilient and be empowered to shape their future, Takeshi Moriyama told BTA.