Sofia Municipality is assisting those fleeing the war in Ukraine with transport, accommodation, health care, access to jobs, humanitarian and legal aid and free parking. At this stage, the Sofia Municipal Council voted BGN 300,000 from the budget of Sofia Municipality to be spent on providing assistance to Ukrainian citizens.
1. TRANSPORT FROM THE BORDER TO SOFIA
The Emergency Aid and Prevention Directorate has vehicles that transport people from the Ukrainian-Romanian border to Sofia, assisting and caring for them on the road and at check-in.
2. ACCOMMODATION
Sofia provides accommodation for 206 refugees from Ukraine – 105 on the territory of the municipality and 101 on the basis of a municipal company in the town of Primorsko. Among the accommodation places are 18 on the territory of centers for providing social services, with excellent conditions for mothers with children, including the possibility to provide psychological assistance. The hospital for post-treatment in the Pancharevo region can accommodate elderly people who also need medical care.
District administrations are also actively involved in the provision of accommodation. For example, the Triaditsa district offered the Sofia Municipality two housing estates that could accommodate refugees and Ukrainian families. One object is an apartment is in zh.k. “South Park” and the other is a home in zh.k. “Shooting Range”. The region is fully ready to provide further assistance and assistance in the joint actions to meet the refugee flow of Ukrainians and our compatriots from Ukraine.
Other accommodation options for Ukrainians in need are currently being sought, such as in residential centers.
3. HEALTH
Municipal hospitals in Sofia provide free medical care to refugees.
4. ACCESS TO WORKPLACES
Invest Sofia creates a mechanism for access of Ukrainians to jobs through which they can get:
✔️Information about job positions
✔️Training and retraining
✔️Direct contact with employers.
The Invest Sofia team is already working on building a fast and efficient mechanism for businesses to meet through the various organizations that work with refugees to offer real support to everyone. For information call +359 89 705 0746.
At the moment, the First General Hospital “St. Sofia” is ready to provide jobs for Ukrainian medics. The hospital has vacancies for midwives in various wards and in intensive care.
5. HUMANITARIAN AID
Aid points were also opened in several regional municipalities, including Slatina.
Sofia Municipality provides temporary and gratuitous premises for a humanitarian center, where to receive and distribute aid to Ukrainian refugees. At the meeting of the Municipal Council, held on March 10, it was decided to provide the premises of 200 square meters in the “Vazrazhdane” district, Tsaribrodska Street. The goal is to have more order and guide citizens. Donations will be accepted and distributed there.
6. LEGAL AID
A team of lawyers provides free legal advice and consultations on tel. +35924007342 and email ukrainelegalaid@gklaw.bg.
7. FREE PARKING FOR VEHICLES WITH UKRAINIAN REGISTRATION IN SOFIA
Sofia Municipality provides parking spaces for free use of vehicles with Ukrainian registration, which is located at the entrance “A3” of the National Palace of Culture – National Palace of Culture. The parking lot will be able to be used by everyone else, as before. This location was chosen because it has free capacity and the daily activities of Sofia residents will not be hindered.
