The State Agency for Refugees launches a pilot project aimed at protecting unaccompanied children

The State Agency for Refugees with the Council of Ministers will implement a pilot project for Bulgaria and the European Union aimed at creating alternative social services for unaccompanied refugee children, announced the agency’s head Ivan Ivanov, as quoted by BGNES. The municipalities of Burgas, Ivaylovgrad, Malko Tarnovo and Tundzha will take part in the project, in partnership with the International Organization for Migration Bulgaria (IOM Bulgaria) and UNICEF Bulgaria.

A significant number of the refugees and migrants arriving in Bulgaria are unaccompanied children, said Ivan Ivanov. In his words, these children face numerous risks along their journey — many have experienced violence, become victims of sexual exploitation, trafficking, forced marriage, and have been subjected to severe emotional and psychological stress. The efforts of the State Agency for Refugees and its project partners are aimed at this highly vulnerable group, Ivan Ivanov emphasized.

The goal of the project is to develop an effective model for the protection and integration of unaccompanied refugee children by providing specialized social services. More details about the project will be announced during its official presentation at the Council of Ministers at the end of the month.