Migrants Increasingly Desert Refugee Camp in Bulgaria's Harmanli

Migrants have increasingly deserted the centre for the accommodation of refugees located in the Bulgarian town of Harmanli.

At present, there are less than 200 foreigners, with the buildings lying empty and the staff being too numerous.

The largest refugee camp in Bulgaria was half full for the last time in September, private bTV station informs.

Since then, neither the procedure for granting refugee status, which usually lasts until six months, nor the number of newcomers, has decreased.

At the same time, the interior ministry has not registered drop to the migratory pressure exerted on the country.

The reason is that the foreigners accommodated in the centre flee to western Europe, most often to Germany.

The director of the centre, Yordan Malinov, notes that this is not a prison and people can not be forced to stay against their will.

Despite the lack of refugees, a public procurement procedure for 400 new housing containers has been launched.

According to the management of the camp, the containers will be only stored in Harmanli.