Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, almost 75 thousand people have arrived in Lithuania. Ukrainians, of which almost 26 thousand of children. The concentration of the country’s residents, non-governmental organizations and the public sector allows for prompt and safe reception of war refugees. Last year, the Civic Power Index showed that as many as two-thirds of the Lithuanian population helped Ukraine and Ukrainians in one way or another. At the event of the Ministry of Social Security and Labor in Vilnius, Minister Monika Navickienė thanked individuals, institutions and organizations that actively contributed to the provision of support to Ukrainian war refugees.
“Putin’s terrible war against Ukraine has been going on for more than a year. The concentration of Lithuanian residents, the public sector and non-governmental organizations, the determination to help the people of Ukraine fleeing the war is astounding. Joint efforts provide tireless support and assistance to help them settle and create a safe life in Lithuania. I thank everyone and invite you to continue helping the Ukrainians in a united way,” says Minister of Social Security and Labor Monika Navickienė.
During the year, more than 100 thousand were distributed to Ukrainians. food packages, almost 67 thousand food cards, 97 thousand hygiene packages, over 40 thousand hygiene cards. The state sector and non-governmental organizations provided more than 280,000 people with various help, including psychological, to Ukrainians. together. About 50,000 people were involved in the provision of aid in Lithuania. volunteers. More than 30 thousand Lithuanian residents opened the doors of their homes to Ukrainians, and even more donated things and money.
Great attention is paid to the most vulnerable war refugees from Ukraine. More than 48,000 children were given support in the form of things, supplies and services during the year. together. The “Save the Children” organization provided emotional and psychosocial support to almost 18,000 children. of children.
There is no municipality in Lithuania where refugees from the Ukrainian war have not settled at least for a short time. Although most of them settled in Vilnius, Kaunas and Klaipėda, all local communities encountered new experiences and help the settlers.
The Ministry of Social Security and Labor invited representatives of the public sector, non-governmental organizations and communities to a thank-you event held in Vilnius – a discussion “Helping Ukraine: determination, focus, work done and challenges”. Work done, opportunities for cooperation and future challenges were discussed. At the event, thanks were given to individuals, institutions and organizations that actively contributed to the provision of support to the refugees of the war in Ukraine.
Edvinas Regelskis, Secretary General of the Relief Service of the Order of Malta, was awarded the “Star of Kindness” badge for his help in organizing and providing humanitarian aid, operating registration centers and supporting hotlines, and Director of the charity and support fund “Maisto Bankas” for his help in organizing and providing humanitarian food aid Simon Gurevich. The Star of Kindness was also awarded to Rasa Dičpetriene, general director of the public organization “Save the Children” for her help in organizing and providing humanitarian aid to children and expectant women, accommodating groups of children – war refugees from Ukraine. Edmundas Jakilaitis, director of the public institution “Stiprūs kartu” and Akvilė Bartaševičiūtė, the coordinator of this institution and chief scout of Lithuanian Scouting, were awarded the “Kindness Star” for their help in organizing the accommodation and travel of Ukrainian war refugees to and from Lithuania. The “Star of Kindness” was also awarded to IndreiLiaudanskiena, head of the Crisis Management Department of the public organization “Save the Children”, for her sustainable contribution and special achievements in solving social problems during crises and providing humanitarian aid to victims.
