Despite scarcely available drinking water because of a shortage and high temperatures, part of the researchers from the project team also visited the town of Omurtag in the period from July 13 to 19, 2023, where they conducted field studies. Meetings were held with members of separated families – elderly relatives and young people.

Behrin Shopova, PhD deepened her studies related to the lack of water in the region, which is one of the main reasons for the outflow of the young population to other places where this problem does not exist. The reluctance of families who emigrated to Western Europe to return or even visit their relatives in the summer months, due to the lack of water, was one of the main problems highlighted by the respondents.

Yelis Erolova, PhD continued her research on the Muslim Roma community, which confirmed her conclusions from the studies carried out so far, namely that as a result of emigration to various European countries, their quality of life has increased. In the Roma neighborhood of Omurtag, the newly built and renovated houses contrast with the poor condition of the road infrastructure. The consequences of the emigration of the Roma from Omurtag, as well as in other settlements in North-Eastern Bulgaria such as Varna, Shumen and Balchik, is expressed not only in care for the family, but also in care for the local Muslim community. Thanks to their donations, the local mosque “Funduk” was also renovated.