Latvia Allocates €10.3 Million To Support Ukrainian Refugees
The Latvian government has approved an additional allocation of €10.3 million to support Ukrainian refugees, as reported by NRA.lv.
These funds are necessary to cover the expenses of local authorities from July to November for the support of Ukrainian residents, including accommodation, meals, social assistance, education provision, activities of the single coordination points for state and municipal support, and more.
"Taking into account the surplus from the previously allocated funding for refugee support and the requests from local authorities, an additional €10 million is required," the government statement said.
As a result, the total funding provided this year to support Ukrainian refugees will amount to nearly €32.2 million.
Currently, Ukrainian refugees in Latvia can expect the following benefits:
One-time crisis assistance - €272 for adults and €190 for children. Additional monthly assistance of €109 for the first person and €76 for each subsequent person in the civilian household of Ukrainian citizens. Other material support or social services as per individual needs.
As previously reported by The Gaze, the Council of the European Union extended the duration of the temporary protection mechanism for Ukrainians seeking refuge from the war until March 2025.
This system offers immediate and collective protection (without the need for individual assessment) to displaced individuals who cannot return to their country of origin. Its aim is to alleviate the pressure on national asylum systems and provide displaced individuals with agreed rights within the EU. These rights include:
- Housing
- Access to the job market and residence
- Medical assistance
- Social support
- Access to education for children
As of October 10, according to the United Nations, over 6.2 million Ukrainians have become refugees since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion.
The organization reported that more than 5.14 million Ukrainian refugees have applied for temporary resident status in neighbouring Western European countries.