Since the start of the war in Ukraine, 6 663 people have been provided with accommodation in Latvia with assistance from the Civil Protection Commission. 9 706 Ukrainian citizens have been issued with residence and work permits so far, according to the latest information from Latvia’s Ministry of the Interior.
Accommodation was necessary for 1 431 people in Riga.
Most Ukrainian refugees are women and children. Some of the arriving Ukrainian refugees come to live with relatives, friends or acquaintances.
Ukrainian residents who have biometric passports and do not require social assistance or accommodation assistance can remain in Latvia for up to 90 days a year without informing local authorities.
Latvian Minister of the Interior Marija Golubeva said last week that an accurate number of refugees in Latvia is unknown, adding that all data will be compiled in a single Ukrainian refugees database.
The ministry had previously predicted 10 000 Ukrainian refugees would arrive in Latvia. The minister said the number of refugees staying in Latvia will soon exceed 10 000. Trends observed in Europe indicate the number of Ukrainian refugees will keep increasing for some time.
Read also: Day 36 of war in Ukraine: Three settlements recaptured, Brest in Belarus used for Russian attacks
The Ministry of the Interior does not expect a major refugee crisis in the near future, because there are hotels and guest houses still available without the need for municipal administrations to step in.
At the same time, in preparation for an even bigger wage of Ukrainian refugees, authorities and municipalities in Latvia are looking for accommodation options by adapting abandoned schools, student accommodations and other premises available within municipal territories.
The ministry is also working on a proposal that would provide municipalities the right to take on refugees in proportion to their population.
The minister reported that the Ministry of Economics is ordered to explain how municipalities are allowed to use financing available to them to pay for apartment rent for refugees.
Since the start of Russia’s attack on Ukraine millions of people in Ukraine have fled to other countries.
Nearly 10 000 Ukrainian refugees receive residence and work permits in Latvia
