RIGA, March 7 (LETA) - All Ukrainian refugees arriving in Latvia sooner or later will have to arrange the necessary documents, said Riga vice-mayor Linda Ozola (Conservatives) in an interview with the commercial TV3 television today.

She said that Latvia has two main tasks in the context of the war in Ukraine - help Ukraine and arrange everything here so that Latvian services are running like a clockwork.

Ozola underscored that it is important that everyone who is turning for help is registered with the Border Guard because only then the state and municipal support can be provided. Registration is also necessary for the residence visa. All necessary documents can be arranged at the refugee support center at the House of Congress in Riga.

"All Ukrainian residents sooner or later will have to turn to the Citizenship and Migration Affairs Board.  Maybe a number of Ukrainians who are staying with their relatives or friends in Latvia do not need any social assistance services, but the documents should be in order for everyone," she said.

The number of services provided at the refugee support center will be expanded as needed.

As of today, a support center for Ukrainian residents will start work at the House of Congress in Riga.

The center will ensure that Ukrainian refugees and their family members who have left Ukraine or cannot return to Ukraine because of the war started by Russia will be able to receive assistance at one place.

The support center will be operated as a one-stop agency, providing all municipal and state services needed for refugees.

The municipality will primarily provide the necessary social assistance and issues related with education. Services of social worker, customer service specialist and education specialist will be provided.

Food parcels will also be distributed in the center.

There will be State Border guard officials, collecting information about people who have arrived in Latvia.

Accommodation matters will be solved by the State Fire and Rescue Service specialists.

Specialists from the Citizenship and Migration Affairs Board will help to solve issues related with visas and personal identification documents. State Employment Agency specialists will consult on job opportunities.

National Health Service specialists will solve the issue of registration with family physicians and vaccination against Covid-19.

Services will be tailored according to what refugees need.

The support center will be headed by Raivis Knoks, the director of the Neighborhood Residents Center.

As reported, on February 24, Russia unleashed a war in Ukraine, targeting not only military, but also residential areas, Belarusian army entered the territory of Ukraine on March 1, forcing more than a million civilians to flee their home and country.