Number of Migrant Arrivals to Bulgaria On the Rise

Bulgaria's Interior Ministry has recorded an increase in the number of migrants who cross into Bulgaria, news website Dnevnik.bg reports.

More than 500 migrants have been detained across the country over the past 7 days. Of these 120 have been arrested while trying to cross into Bulgaria from Turkey or Greece.

Between January and end-July, more than 2000 people were detained while trying to enter. Most of the arrivals were from Iraq and Afghanistan. 

As many as 5000 were arrested while leaving the country for Serbia, compared to 4500 people for the same period of last year.

A Serbian NGO recently claimed up to 300 migrants crossed into the country from Bulgaria on a daily basis.

Belgrade maintains Sofia fails to provide good enough border controls to curb the inflow of Middle Eastern migrants.