Jews help Syria’s innocent victims in Bulgaria Former pop musician Yank Barry is teaming up with celeb boxers, aiming to knock out hunger and homelessness among Syrian refugees, while Jewish group Shalom offers medical care. SOFIA, Bulgaria — In escaping the horrors of the Syrian civil war, Hadirdrami Yantar hoped he would find solace in Bulgaria. Lured by dreams of a better life in a Western country, the 39-year-old Syrian and his family of four paid smugglers to cross the Turkish border and arrived in the town of Harmanli, only to be met by a harsh reality. Living as squatters in the makeshift trailer park that serves as a camp for new arrivals, Yantar’s family were forced to brave low winter temperatures with only outdoor fires to keep them warm. The Vrazhdebna refugee camp in Sofia, where doctors organized by Shalom are helping the Syrians. (photo credit: Georgi Kozhuharov) SOFIA, Bulgaria — In escaping the horrors of the Syrian civil war, Hadirdrami Yantar hoped he would find solace in Bulgaria. Lured by dreams of a better life in a Western country, the 39-year-old Syrian and his family of four paid smugglers to cross the Turkish border and arrived in the town of Harmanli, only to be met by a harsh reality. Living as squatters in the makeshift trailer park that serves as a camp for new arrivals, Yantar’s family were forced to brave low winter temperatures with only outdoor fires to keep them warm. Unable to handle the growing number of refugees, the Bulgarian authorities are helpless to offer anything more than overcrowded camps in poor condition with little medical care or food. “We count on external assistance,” admitted Bulgarian Prime Minister Plamen Oresharski during a meeting with Jewish Canadian philanthropist, pop musician/jingle writer Yank Barry on November 13. Driven by personal ties to Bulgaria and his humanitarian mission, Barry is among the most recent contributors to join the relief effort to aid the Syrian refugees in Bulgaria, the European Union’s least wealthy member. Read full blog at https://www.timesofisrael.com/jewish-philanthropist-helps-syrias-innocent-in-bulgaria/
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