Germany Encourages Syrians to Return Home Despite Fragile Conditions
Nearly 6,000 Syrians applied last year to return voluntarily to Syria under a program financed by Germany’s Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF)
Syrian Refugees in Bulgarian Shelter Declare Hunger Strike
Society | September 8, 2013, Sunday // 12:40
- Tweet
Send to Kindle
Chaos has been reigning in the refugee shelter in Bulgaria's southern town of Lyubimets for three days now. Photo by www.vice.com
Thirty two Syrian refugees from the shelter in Bulgaria's southern town of Lyubimets have declared hunger strike.
One of them has told Nova TV that they are upset by the slow process and the red tape in Bulgaria granting them official refugee status.
Syrian Tarek says chaos has been reigning in the shelter for three days now and compares the conditions there as those of a prison.
Tarek has already spent 44 days in the Lyubimets shelter and wishes to receive official refugee status ASAP in order to start a normal life. The deadline for the procedure in Bulgaria is 6 months, but the protesters deem it way too long.
"I want freedom. My family is still in Syria and I have been disconnected from them. For 10 days now I don't know anything about them. I came here as a refugee, not as a criminal. They want to keep us in this jail for 6 months, but we will strike until they give us freedom. We don't want to stir trouble and break the rules, but the situation here is truly unbearable," Tarek explains.
The Bulgarian Interior Ministry has commented that the State Agency for Refugees is working to find ways to improve conditions in the shelter and speed up the procedure.
Related Articles:
Syria’s Kurds Retreat: Government Takes Full Control After Ceasefire Deal
The Syrian government has reached a ceasefire agreement with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) following several days of intense clashes in northeastern Syria.
World | January 19, 2026, Monday // 17:21
Bulgaria Among Main EU Hosts for Over 4 Million Ukrainians under Temporary Protection
As of November 30, 2025, over 4.3 million non-EU citizens who fled Ukraine were under temporary protection across the European Union, according to Eurostat
Society | January 13, 2026, Tuesday // 14:20
Syria’s New President, Once Al Qaeda Leader, Reaffirms Ties with Russia
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa assured Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday that he intends to uphold all prior agreements between Syria and Moscow
Only 13 Survive as Boat Carrying 74 Refugees Capsizes Off Libya's Coast
Only 13 people survived and dozens remain missing after a vessel carrying 74 refugees, mostly from Sudan, capsized off the coast of Tobruk in eastern Libya on September 13, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
World | September 18, 2025, Thursday // 10:32
Dutch Cities Overwhelmed: No More Room for Ukrainian Refugees
Municipalities across the Netherlands have signaled that they are running out of capacity to accommodate additional Ukrainians seeking temporary protection in the country
Second Student Death in a Year Shocks Haskovo School
A tragic incident has once again drawn attention in Haskovo. On 14 February 2026, a 16-year-old student from the Atanas Burov Finance and Economics High School took his own life at his home
Bulgaria Sees Strong Growth in New Car Sales
The market for brand new passenger cars in Bulgaria saw notable growth in 2025, according to data from the Association of Automobile Manufacturers and their authorized representatives
Society | February 17, 2026, Tuesday // 13:12
Bulgaria Adds 20 New Vehicles to Boost Protection of Natura 2000 Sites
Twenty new high-clearance vehicles have been added to support state authorities in safeguarding Bulgaria’s territories within the EU’s Natura 2000 ecological network
Bulgaria Ranks Second in EU for Road Deaths
In 2024, Bulgaria ranked second in the European Union in terms of road fatalities, according to a European Commission report assessing progress toward the goal of halving road deaths and injuries by 2030
Society | February 17, 2026, Tuesday // 09:00
Celebrate Baba Marta in Style: Retro Train Rides from Sofia to Bankya on 1 March
Bulgarian State Railways (BDZ) is offering a special retro train experience from Sofia to Bankya on 1 March to celebrate Baba Marta Day, one of Bulgaria’s most beloved springtime traditions
Bulgaria Faces Dangerous Weather: Heavy Snow and Rain to Hit Half the Country on Tuesday
A Mediterranean cyclone will bring widespread precipitation across Bulgaria on Tuesday, prompting warnings for dangerous weather conditions.
