Latvian Television visited the warehouse of the association “Tavi draugi” in Rīga, Ventspils Street 50, where residents are invited to donate aid to Ukrainian civilians. Storage reserves are already much smaller than at the beginning of the conflict, and food is most needed.
Artūrs Kristlībs, a volunteer with the association said: “Two months have passed. We work in the same mode as in the beginning. Even more active. But on the donor side, we feel that this initiative, the desire to help, is dwindling. And this is also evidenced by our storage, which is very low. And we also feel that not so many drivers want to go to Poland, Ukraine."
Most of the food packages are now going to those Ukrainians who are still waiting for benefits and do not yet work, who are not housed by relatives or volunteers. One of the organizations involved in coordinating the provision of assistance in Latvia is the association “Latvijas Lauku forums”.
The association's coordinator, Aiva Apša-Ķīšeniece, said: “The initiative went down, I would say, a month in. The first month was really very intense. I don't think it's related to rising food prices. I think more people get tired of that news. The first was that shock when they wanted to help, and we [non-governmental organizations] said to slow down a little because it would last a long time. But the public wants to react quickly and immediately.”
Volunteers and representatives of non-governmental organizations say that demand for summer clothing will also grow. At the beginning of the war, most donated clothes were for winter, but the seasons are changing.
