RIGA, June 28 (LETA) - Starting from July 1 when the state support for accommodation of Ukrainian refugees is reduced, about 3,000 refugees will have to find new accommodation facilities, LETA learned from the Latvian Association of Local Governments (LPS). 

LPS said that not only Riga, but also other municipalities have already reached the agreed refugee accommodation quotas - Rezekne, Rezekne municipality, Saulkrasti, Tukums, Varaklani, Sigulda and other municipalities.

Many other municipalities are close to achieving their quotas, and the flow of refugees might increase in the nearest time.

LPS said that Latvia has resolved to admit Ukrainian refugees, delegating this task to local governments, and respective funding then should be allocated for accommodation, catering and other assistance for local governments to be able to do that.

Local governments are ready to provide all necessary assistance to Ukrainian civilians, but it is also important for the state to meet up its end of the bargain, developing an adequate support system and compensating local governments for their expenses.

The association underscored that there is still no clarity about long-term solutions in admission of refugees, while local governments have to be sure that all their expenses will be compensated and there will be no losses in the municipal budgets. At the same time, they also have to provide social support to local residents and get ready for the complicated situation with the new heating season.

As reported, after failing to receive financial support from the central government, Riga will stop admitting more Ukraine war refugees from July 1 and will only continue to provide assistance to the refugees already living in the city, Riga Mayor Martins Stakis (For/Progressives) said at a news conference Tuesday.

The Riga mayor said that the state allocation for the accommodation of the refugees will be substantially reduced from July 1. The daily support will be cut to EUR 3.5 per refugee, which is insufficient to survive in Riga. Tourist accommodation establishments will not be able to accommodate refugees for such a price, the mayor said.

At present, 1,800 Ukrainian civilians are living in Riga's hotels and other tourist accommodation establishments.

Stakis has instructed municipal officials to contact the tourist accommodation establishments and inform them that the municipality will cover the price difference and to ask them not to terminate refugee accommodation agreements.

The local government will thus spend EUR 450,000 per month on refugee accommodation. The money will be taken from contingency funds and will suffice for about two more months.

The Riga mayor also noted that 16,6000 refugees have so far arrived in the city, which is by 3,000 people more than projected in the national refugee admission plan.