Sofia - On the 28th of January 2021, IOM Bulgaria launched the project "Support for asylum seekers in Bulgaria".

Within the framework of the 18-month project, IOM Bulgaria will provide social, administrative, psychological, and legal assistance to asylum seekers in Bulgaria. The management of the two Safety zones for unaccompanied minors that IOM established in RRC Sofia - Ovcha Kupel and RRC Sofia - Voenna Rampa will continue, allowing for the needs of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children to be identified and a secure environment and social assistance provided to them.

Teams of IOM social workers will provide 24/7 care and assistance to the children accommodated in the Safety zones. The children will receive clothes, hygiene materials and other non-food items and will have the opportunity to participate in diverse sport, art, and other recreational activities. IOM's mobile teams will provide legal, psychological, and social consultations to asylum seekers and will identify vulnerable individuals who will be referred to specialized service providers. Specific services like spoken and written interpretation and social mediation will be provided as part of the project as well.

The project is funded as part of the National Programme of Bulgaria under the Asylum, Migration, and Integration Fund 2014-2020.

This text was created with the financial support of the EU’s Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF). The International Organization for Migration is solely responsible for the content of the document, and under no circumstances can be assumed that this document reflects the official position of the European Union and the Responsible authority.