European Commission to give Bulgaria almost $7.7M to help refugees
SOFIA, Bulgaria, Nov. 29 (UPI) — The European Commission said it will give nearly $7.7 million to Bulgaria to help the country deal with an influx in asylum seekers.
The money, which is coming from the European Refugee Fund, will be used to help manage Bulgaria’s growing number of asylum seekers and better the lives of refugees in Bulgaria, including providing them with medical and psychological assistance, FOCUS News Agency reported Friday.
“I am happy to announce that, in the framework of the efforts put in place by the European Commission to support EU countries confronted with increasing asylum and migratory pressure, we are making EUR 5.6 million available to the Bulgarian authorities. The emergency funding will ease the situation on the ground for asylum seekers and refugees who have fled their countries and will help the Bulgarian authorities to finance urgent measures for accommodation and reception as well as the provision of immediate health care and assistance,” said European Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom.
Bulgarian officials said Thursday they believe the refugee situation in the country will be brought under control in the very near future, Novonite.com reported.
“As a result of the measures we have undertaken, the influx of illegal immigrants has decreased significantly,” Interior Minister Tsvetlin Yovchev said.
Bulgaria is the European entry point from many refugees fleeing the civil war in Syria through Turkey, as well as a large number of people from North Africa and the Middle East.
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