Public authorities and non-governmental organisations in Latvia have pooled their efforts to jointly provide coordinated assistance to Ukraine and Ukrainian refugees.
A centralised support platform, www.palidziukrainai.lv, has been set up, and everyone living in Latvia and willing to help is invited to register themselves. A separate application questionnaire has been devised for businesses (see here) who would like to provide humanitarian assistance. A centralised helpline number +371 27380380 has been installed, and war refugees from Ukraine are especially invited to call.
With the Latvian people’s involvement, coordinated in a centralised manner, four shipments of humanitarian assistance (143 pallets) have been delivered to Ukraine until 7 March, followed by two more shipments that were sent out on 8 March. The supplies are received by various Ukrainian charity organisations, which ensure that humanitarian aid reaches the locations where it is most required, and the Ukrainian people in the most urgent need. The deliveries contain diverse items: blankets, sleeping bags, matrasses, hygiene and food products, pet food, medical products and medicines. Ukrainian have received the first shipments and are offering their thanks to the Latvian people for understanding, compassion and selfless help in supplying the much needed humanitarian goods.
Centralised coordination of assistance enables an effective, timely and smooth delivery of humanitarian aid to Ukraine. Likewise, registration on the joint platform and a concerted action of aid providers have made it possible for several thousands of Ukrainian refugees to arrive in Latvia.
However, there are cases when residents of Latvia, without prior registration and in an ad hoc manner, are putting together and bringing humanitarian aid to Ukraine or going there to collect refugees on their own. This adds to congestions at the border and interferes with safe passage of refugees. Besides, if humanitarian aid is delivered individually, we cannot be certain of who the direct beneficiaries would be. Moreover, with the military action escalating day by day, the danger of staying in the country is increasing and departure from it growing more complicated.
In light of that, please be advised against arranging deliveries of humanitarian aid or reception of refugees on your own initiative, and travelling to Ukraine, which may endanger your life. Instead, everyone who wants to aid Ukrainians is welcome to complete a questionnaire on the www.palidziukrainai.lv website, specifying how they could help; a coordinator will then contact you as soon as your assistance is needed.
Every effort to support Ukraine is welcome and met with gratitude. Ukrainians will need help in the long term; therefore, a united and thoroughly concerted provision of aid is more important than ever. Let us stand together and provide assistance in a coordinated manner.
Background information:
The coordination of support to Ukrainians has brought together public authorities – the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of the Interior, the Society Integration Fund, the State Border Guard, the State Firefighting and Rescue Service, the State Chancellery, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs – and more than sixty civil society organisations.