Mon Jan 06 13:57:04 UTC 2025: ## EU Border Violence Leaves Refugees Traumatized, Report Reveals
**Sofia, Bulgaria** – A Canadian medical volunteer’s summer spent providing care to refugees in Bulgaria has uncovered harrowing accounts of violence and suffering at the hands of border authorities and smugglers. The volunteer, whose name is withheld for safety reasons, detailed the experiences of several refugees in a recent report, highlighting the inadequacy of medical care and the systemic abuse faced by those seeking asylum.
The volunteer worked alongside another volunteer, Tomas, providing much-needed medical services in Harmanli, a town near the Bulgarian-Turkish border. A large international NGO was supposed to provide care in the local camp, but its services were reportedly minimal. The volunteers instead established a makeshift clinic in a nearby park, treating injuries sustained during perilous journeys across forests and rivers, as well as infections rampant in overcrowded camps. They also participated in search-and-rescue missions, tragically recovering bodies of those who perished attempting the crossing. One particularly distressing incident involved a Syrian woman who nearly died after a grueling journey, only to be found deceased days later.
The volunteer’s report includes several individual testimonies. Muhammad, a refugee from Afghanistan, described brutal beatings and torture inflicted by Serbian border police, resulting in severe injuries, including missing toenails. Halima, a Syrian woman, recounted being beaten by smugglers while 28 weeks pregnant with triplets, ultimately delivering stillborn babies. Yasmeen, a 17-year-old Syrian girl, suffers from untreated rheumatic heart disease due to a lack of access to healthcare in her home country and Bulgaria. Other stories highlight the lack of adequate food and shelter in the camps, with accounts of maggot-infested rations.
Despite the grim circumstances, the volunteer noted the resilience and kindness shown by the refugees. Ahmed, a Syrian volunteer translator, demonstrated remarkable compassion, having previously worked as an ambulance driver in war-torn Syria. The families who opened their homes and shared meals with the volunteer exemplified remarkable hospitality and unwavering strength amidst unimaginable hardship.
The report concludes with a personal reflection on the disparity between the volunteer’s own experience at the Sofia airport (being questioned by police due to her appearance) and the extreme suffering endured by the refugees she assisted. She underscored the profound humanity of those she met, contrasting their kindness with the violence and indifference they faced. The volunteer’s experiences underscore the urgent need for improved humanitarian aid and protection for refugees seeking asylum in Europe. The cases documented will be shared with the Border Violence Monitoring Network for further investigation.
First Piper 