site.btaNearly 75,000 Refugees Granted Temporary Protection by Bulgarian Government in Past Year

Last year, the Bulgarian government granted or renewed temporary protection to around 75,000 refugees, according to data from the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). More than two-thirds of the refugees were women and children, and a fifth were elderly or disabled.

Due to the ongoing uncertainty over security, housing and the economy in Ukraine, many refugees in Bulgaria plan to stay in the country for a longer period of time, UNHCR added. As a result, the UN Refugee Agency and its partners  are focusing on supporting the long-term socio-economic inclusion of refugees.

Some of the priority measures include facilitating access to employment, education, language training and social protection, as well as the inclusion and integration of refugees into national systems. Efforts are also aimed at strengthening these systems, which are currently under additional strain, UNHCR said.