UNHCR Senior Emergency Coordinator: Bulgaria among first EU member states to provide Ukrainians with temporary protection

Sofia, Bulgaria: The Senior Emergency Coordinator in Bulgaria of the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) – Takeshi Moriyama, in his recent statement, noted that Bulgaria was among the nations who, at the initial stages, began providing aid to the Ukraine refugees by granting temporary health protection to them.

Following the above statement, he further informed that around 300,000 Ukraine nationals who entered the borders of the European country since the beginning of the Russian invasion (February 24).

Moriyama then highlights that UNHCR welcomed and praised the decision of the Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov led administration in promoting the economic inclusion of the Ukrainian nationals.

More than 4,000 Ukraine refugees managed to take a job in the European country of Bulgaria, he then informed, adding this makes them self-reliant and assists Ukrainians in taking care of the needs of their families as well as maintaining their dignity.

“This is also making Ukraine refugees more resilient and be empowered to shape their future”, in context to the statement mentioned above, Moriyama stated.

What is temporary protection?

It gives privilege to the Ukraine nationals to get the job, live, and get their children enrolled in Bulgarian schools. It further provides access to the labour market and healthcare services and receives aid.

The war between Russia and Ukraine has now entered its 96th day. As per the data shared by the UNHCR, nearly 63% of the total 8 million population of Ukraine who left the country amid the Russian invasion are women.

To provide every possible assistance to the women refugees, UNHCR nearly distributed hygiene kits, including sanitary pads, to 19,000 women & girls fleeing through Odesa train station & others who have just arrived in transit centres in Dnipro.

As per recent reports, Ukraine’s military destroyed a Russian ammunition depot in eastern Ukraine. The war-torn country’s Operational Tactical Group “East” conveyed that 39 Russian troops were killed on May 29.