IV. PROTECTION OF ASYLUM SEEKERS In 2020, the NPM performed an inspection at Lyubimets SHTAF in the conditions of an emergency epidemic situation in relation to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Medical Institute of the MoI Hospital has developed and systematically updates the anti-epidemic guidance for the special homes for temporary accommodation of foreigners in line with the provisions of the Ministry of Health and the specific situation at the homes. For the period March – December, Lyubimets SHTAF registered 17 foreigners and Sofia SHTAF registered 203 foreigners infected with Covid-19. Critical findings A serious concern continues to be the systemic failure to resolve the matter with the inclusion of unaccompanied children in the orders of adult foreigners where they do not know each other and do not have any relations. It is inadmissible to keep children at special homes for temporary accommodation of foreigners due to the lack of coordination between the competent state authorities. Main recommendations Improve the interinstitutional cooperation between SHTAF and SAD with respect to unaccompanied children held at SHTAF and hold regular meetings on the matters of protection of unaccompanied children; Improve the interinstitutional cooperation between MoI, Migration Directorate and SAA to terminate the accommodation of unaccompanied foreign children at SHTAF. The home administration has taken action to renovate and improve the facilities but the foreigners still do not have sufficient personal space. The NPM has recommended that action be taken to ensure sufficient personal space for the foreigners. During the interviews with foreigners placed there, the NPM did not receive signals of maltreatment or violence on the part of the home staff. At the same time, there is still a serious issue with the inclusion of unaccompanied children in the orders of adult foreigners where they do not know each other and have no relations. In this case, the NPM has found that the authorities of the Social Assistance Directorate were informed by Lyubimets SHTAF about the cases of children but, due to formal obstacles and lack of resources (including a vehicle), the children were not moved timely to the SAD centres and they were held illegally for several days. What is even more paradoxical in the situation is that the adults with whom the children had been assigned were transitioned before the children. The NPM team is raising a serious concern that this systemic problem has not 15