Get acquainted with the region’s experience in receiving Ukrainian civilians

Alūksne district > Get acquainted with the region’s experience in receiving Ukrainian civilians

On April 23, representatives of the Latvian office of the International Organization for Migration Līga Puriņa-Purīte and Renāte Ozoliņa and representatives of the UN Refugee Agency in the Nordic and Baltic countries Karolis Žibas and Anna Audere visited the municipality of Alūksne region.

The guests met with council vice-chairmen Aivars Fomin and Druvi Thomsons, executive director Inga Berkula, Ukrainian helpline coordinator in the municipality Mara Kovalenko, head of the Education Department Guntas Kupčas and chairman of the board of the Alūksne and Apes county fund Dzintra Zvejniec.

The purpose of the visit was to get acquainted with the experience of Alūksne region in receiving Ukrainian civilians, providing the necessary support and assistance in household, educational, medical, and employment matters.

The guests were informed about how soon after the Russian invasion of Ukraine – on March 1 – the local government created an action group and opened a support center for Ukrainian civilians, how the registration, reception, accommodation and meals of people entering the region were ensured, how in cooperation with the Alūksnes and Apes regions funds and other active and responsive people from Aluk, then and now, the necessary help for Ukrainians is provided.

– The main factor was and is solution-oriented people in the action group, even at a time when many issues of the reception of Ukrainian citizens in the country were not yet clear, – emphasized A. Fomin.

Since the beginning of the war, 2,618 Ukrainian civilians have been registered in Aluksne. According to the information at the disposal of the municipality, there are currently around 70 Ukrainians living in the territory of the district who have come here to seek asylum. 10 Ukrainian children attend regional educational institutions, including six schools, four kindergartens.

A very important role in the reception of Ukrainian civilians, providing assistance and their integration is played by the Alūksne and Apes district fund. After the meeting in the municipality, the guests visited the Community Center of Alūksne region, where they were introduced to the activities of the foundation, the scope of support provided to Ukrainian civilians, and also met with representatives of the Ukrainian community.