Speaking to BNR, Bulgarian Siyka Sharafi, who lives permanently in Gaza but was visiting Bulgaria when the conflict broke out, said that her son and his family, who were on the Bulgarian embassy's list of 37 Bulgarians who wanted to leave Gaza, had already crossed the border today. 

• 37 Bulgarians and their family members are asking for help to leave the Gaza Strip
• Bulgarian citizens cannot be withdrawn from Gaza until their security is guaranteed, UN adviser says
• Hamas allows citizens of 8 countries, including 19 Bulgarians to be evacuated from Gaza Strip

The Bulgarian consul in Cairo was waiting for them on the Egyptian side of the border. Sharafi said she was satisfied with the actions of the Bulgarian authorities and thanked the Bulgarian embassy in Ramallah, the embassy in Cairo and the Foreign Ministry. "People have been working quietly and the first group of foreigners to leave Gaza are Bulgarian citizens. I have received calls from Russian women asking why the Bulgarians were evacuated while the others weren't. This is all the result of the work of Bulgarian diplomats," said Siyka Sharafi.