Riga, May 27 (LETA) - The government on Tuesday approved the list of objects prepared by the Interior Ministry, whose owners will be able to receive funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) for the creation of third category shelters, receiving a total of EUR 22.19 million.

The government order includes 570 sites, 453 owned by local authorities and 117 by the state, which will receive ERDF funding to rebuild or renovate existing facilities to accommodate category three shelters, designed to protect people from hazards by reducing the impact of external blast shock waves and splinters resulting from a disaster, military invasion or war.

The Kurzeme planning region will receive funding for 65 shelters, Latgale - for 60, Vidzeme - for 66, Zemgale - for 55 and Riga planning region - for 207 shelters.

To date, the State Fire and Rescue Service (VUGD) has inspected more than 3,000 national and municipal facilities and declared that more than 1,600 are compliant or partially compliant with requirements for a shelter.