Although the Latvian government has implemented multiple amendments to regulations that govern aid to war refugees from Ukraine, amendments to the Law on Assistance to Ukrainian Civilians that clearly define what kind of aid is to be provided to Ukrainian refugees after the 90-day period still have not been passed even though the end of this term will come up at the end of May, according to Latvian Association of Local Governments (LPS).
Municipalities are concerned about the disorganised state of refugee accommodation, which may result in many war refugees being forced to leave their current place of residence.
«Due to difficult bureaucratic obstacles and slow decision-making, municipalities still have no idea what will happen after the 90-day period, during which Ukrainian refugees were able to receive unconditional assistance. Ever since refugees for war-torn regions of Ukraine started coming in, municipalities have asked many questions about accommodation options. At first this duty was entrusted to tourism sector’s businesses, as there was no specific regulation allowing the use of the private housing fund. In the end the duty to provide accommodation to refugees was left in the hands of municipalities, but there still is no clear definition of accommodation-appropriate spaces,» warns LPS.
So far Ukrainian refugees have been able to cover living expenses with aid from municipalities.
Other expenses are covered as well, but once the 90-day period is over, this will no longer be possible for most refugees – only some of the Ukrainian refugees have found jobs. Unfortunately, in most cases wages are too low to cover rent.
LPS chairman Gints Kaminskis comments: «So far neither LPS nor individual municipalities have received a clear answer and action plan to help provide aid to Ukrainian refugees once the term for unconditional aid is over. Municipalities have yet to receive compensation for providing accommodation, catering and social aid to refugees even though it’s already the third month of the war. Municipalities understand the difficult situation these people are in and provide necessary aid to Ukrainians, but we urge ministries to improve mutual cooperation to ensure municipalities are provided with what they were promised, so that neither refugees nor residents of municipalities suffer.»
Several hundred children who have arrived in Latvia from Ukraine without parents and who have been assigned with guardians here. Although all forms of support will still be provided in full amount, these children are also at risk of being left homeless if legislative amendments are not passed and a special solutions is not applied.
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LPS believes that after the end of the 90-day period Ukrainian refugees will need to be provided with finances to cover housing and catering expenses if they have failed to find a job and have not been able to rent an apartment for any objective reasons. State aid should continue in such situations until Ukrainian refugees are able to secure appropriate living conditions.
To prevent situations when benefits overlap, it is necessary to improve the information system of the Ministry of the Interior and its ties with the register of private persons maintained by the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, LPS notes.