April 15, 2026 11:50 pm (IST)
Follow us:
UN lauds Bulgaria's effort to improve conditions of asylum-seekers
New York, Apr 16 (IBNS): The United Nations refugee agency applauded on Tuesday the "significant efforts" made recently by the Bulgarian authorities and their partners to improve living conditions for asylum seekers in the country.
While planning to lift its January call to temporarily suspend the transfer of refugees from European countries back to Bulgaria (under the Dublin Regulation), the UN Office of the High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) stresses that “serious gaps” in the system remain, and warns against transferring individuals or groups considered most vulnerable.
In the past three months, UNHCR noted improved conditions particularly in the Harmanli centre, a former military base near the Turkish border where refugees were living in tents just four months ago.
“On Tuesday, asylum-seekers living in the centres receive daily hot meals, are accommodated in renovated buildings or accommodation in the process of being renovated, with heating, and have access to health care,” said UNHCR spokesperson Melissa Fleming at a press briefing in Geneva, adding that “with more staff, all asylum-seekers have been registered and progress is being made on asylum decisions.”
However, the UN agency says that accommodation and sanitary conditions in two Sofia centres, Vrazdebhna and Voenna Rampa, remain insufficient. “UNHCR is also concerned about the lack of identification, referral and support to individuals with specific needs; the barriers children face in accessing formal education; and the lack of a sustainable integration programme,” said Fleming.
Reiterating concerns expressed in January, the UN agency warned against measures implemented since Novembre 2013 by the Bulgarian authorities to restrict access to the territory along the Turkish border. “These have resulted in a marked decrease in the number of arrivals since December 2013, and could be preventing people in need of international protection from entering and requesting asylum in Bulgaria,” stressed Fleming.
According to UNHCR, an increasing number of individuals have allegedly been forcibly expelled from Bulgarian territory without being able to apply for asylum, which has resulted in family separations in some cases. UNHCR has received several reports of these alleged "push-backs" from Bulgaria concerning nationals of Syria, Afghanistan and Sudan, as well as Palestinians from Syria.
In 2013, 7,144 people sought asylum in Bulgaria, a sharp increase from an annual average of 1,000 asylum-seekers in the past decade. The recent influx, mostly due to the Syrian conflict, has put significant pressure on an ill-prepared system. Currently Bulgaria is hosting some 5,500 asylum-seekers. About 63 per cent are from Syria, with approximately 2,000 people from Afghanistan.
“UNHCR remains committed to working closely with the Bulgarian authorities, and other partners to address existing gaps and to continue the consolidation of the progress achieved,” said Fleming.
(Young asylum-seekers play in front of a reception and integration centre in Bulgaria. Photo: UNHCR/B.Szandelszky)
Support Our Journalism
We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism
IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.
Support objective journalism for a small contribution.
Latest Headlines
Saudi Arabia is 'pressing' US to ease Iran blockade amid fears of wider oil disruption
Tue, Apr 14 2026
Iran Embassy in Australia drops stunning video of Tehran’s Iran Mall amid Middle East crisis
Tue, Apr 14 2026
Kim Jong Un watches as North Korea fires cruise, anti-ship missiles from naval destroyer
Tue, Apr 14 2026
Deal blows up: Netanyahu-Vance call triggers US-Iran blame war
Mon, Apr 13 2026
No port in Middle East will be safe: Iran issues chilling warning after US blockade announcement
Mon, Apr 13 2026
After 40-day closure, Abu Dhabi’s BAPS Temple set to reopen — What devotees need to do?
Mon, Apr 13 2026
From 18 to 87: Over 500 arrested in London for backing banned group
Sun, Apr 12 2026