Slideshow: Syrian Refugees in Bulgaria

As the war in Syria rages and entry restrictions in other countries grow more restrictive, ever greater numbers of Syrian refugees have made their way to Bulgaria. This year, in fact, nearly 10,000 migrants and refugees, the majority from Syria, have arrived in the country, an unexpected influx that has put pressure on the Bulgarian authorities’ capacity to provide proper shelter and health care.

Significant improvements are still needed for the winter. After observing terrible living conditions in reception centers in the Bulgarian capital city of Sofia and in makeshift camps in the southern part of the country, Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontierès (MSF) began providing medical care in the worst-affected areas.

Gihan, left, fled from Syria with her family after their home was destroyed in a bombing. She suffers from an undiagnosed medical problem which makes it very difficult for her to walk. Her family lives at the Voenna Rampa camp in Sofia, Bulgaria, where they have constructed "rooms" by hanging sheets to create privacy in the large areas that have been transformed into living areas, often housing up to 20 people in one room.

Jodi Hilton

At the overcrowded Voenna Rampa camp in Sofia, Bulgaria, a washroom is now the sleeping area for two unlucky asylum seekers.

Jodi Hilton

A boy is checked for a cough by MSF pediatrician Ludmila Bajdarova. MSF has set up a mobile clinic at Voenna Rampa camp in Sofia, Bulgaria as part of it's emergency intervention for Syrians in Europe.

Jodi Hilton

Suleyman "Simo" Diko, a Bulgarian of Syrian descent and 5th year medical student examines Muhamad, a 57 year-old Syrian asylum seeker, who suffers from a heart condition and high blood pressure who had a heart attack one year ago. The MSF emergency operation began in Bulgaria to address the urgent medical needs of Syrian and other asylum seekers.

Jodi Hilton

MSF pediatrician Ludmila Bajdarova with a young Syrian patient Viyan, at Voenna Rampa camp in Sofia, Bulgaria. Dr. Bajdarova is part of MSF's mobile clinic. MSF began an emergency intervention as part of it's program following Syrian refugees in Europe.

Jodi Hilton

A Syrian girl carries a bucket of laundry to be hung on a line outside Voenna Rampa camp, where many women spend a good part of the day doing laundry by hand as there are no laundry machines on site.

Jodi Hilton

Syrian asylum seekers, who in November lacked electricity and stoves, cook and warm themselves over a fire at Harmanli Camp in Bulgaria. More than 1300 mostly Syrian asylum seekers are awaiting registration in crowded and unsanitary conditions. Electricity has since been installed.

Jodi Hilton

To cope with the many arrivals of migrants and refugees, the Bulgarian authorities installed people in military tents at Harmanli Camp in Bulgaria, while others have been moved to former military barracks. More than 1300 mostly Syrian asylum seekers are awaiting registration in crowded and unsanitary conditions.

Jodi Hilton

A Syrian man and his infant son sit in their tent at Harmanli Camp, a former military installation in Bulgaria. A major increase in the number of migrants crossing into Bulgaria in recent months has strained Bulgaria's existing system. Authorities have quickly moved migrants into makeshift facilities including abandoned schools, tents, containers and military barracks.

Jodi Hilton

Jodi Hilton

Slideshow: Syrian Refugees in Bulgaria

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Slideshow: Syrian Refugees in Bulgaria

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