site.btaPresident Radev: Bulgaria Will Provide Support to Children and Families Fleeing Ukraine

Bulgaria will provide support to children and families, who are fleeing from the military conflict in Ukraine, said President Rumen Radev at a meeting with UNICEF Representatives to Bulgaria Christina de Bruin on Thursday. The two underscored the long-term partnership and the results achieved in the process of deinstutionalization of child care and in respect of the development of early childhood development services in Bulgaria.

The Bulgarian head of State underscored Bulgaria’s readiness to provide humanitarian aid to refugees from Ukraine and put in place conditions for Ukrainian children to continue their education at Bulgarian schools and kindergartens and for their relatives to get included in the labour market in Bulgaria. “I am convinced that we’ll do what it takes as a state and a people to offer good living conditions to the Ukrainian children and their parents,” added Radev.

Christina de Bruin outlined UNICEF’s actions in support of children in Ukraine’s regions that are affected by the war and of evacuating families, women and children. According to UNICEF estimates some 1,000,000 children have left Ukraine since the beginning of the military conflict and the organization is ready to boost its support to the countries which are receiving the refugees.

The sides discussed the development of child and family policies in Bulgaria, children’s rights protection and the key role of education in the full integration of vulnerable children,

De Bruin noted the significance of the new partnership programme between UNICEF and Bulgaria’s government in 2023-2027. According to her, it will focus on the early childhood development and support to parents, ensuring the rights of children and their protection, social inclusion and the full participation of children and youths in the realization of their potential and integration in society. President Radev noted the efforts of institutions to uphold the rule of law in Bulgaria, which will change drastically the public environment, will promote economic growth and will create much more attractive conditions for living and working for the young in Bulgaria.