RIGA, March 10 (LETA) - This week, the Development Council and Administration of the Vidzeme Planning Region (VPR) have started organizing emergency assistance to the Odesa Oblast in Ukraine, Anita Abolina, the VPR's public relations manager, informed LETA.

In the coming days, the municipal councils will decide on the allocation of financial resources for the unified, efficient and operative action of Vidzeme Province in order to gather and deliver the most necessary things to Odesa.

Abolina indicates that the VPR has undertaken to act as a coordinator, will assemble the relief consignment and arrange its delivery to the destination. VPR has requested technical support from the charity organization ziedot.lv, which will soon open a donation account to support Ukraine from Vidzeme Province.

Guntis Gladkins (For Valmiera and Vidzeme), Chairman of the VPR Development Council, confirms that Vidzeme is ready to provide assistance to Ukraine. Each week later, each municipality will decide on the financial support to be provided to support the Odesa Oblast in Ukraine, so that together they can provide coordinated emergency assistance - to buy and send what is most necessary.

He draws the attention of those who want to help to the fact that when more donors come together, the logistics process in Ukraine becomes easier. In addition, it is very important to identify what is specifically needed. "It is clear that safety and security equipment, as well as medical equipment and medicines, remain a priority. I call on other regions, municipalities and citizens to come together to provide joint assistance," Gladkins said.

The decision to provide support and assistance to the Odesa Oblast in Ukraine was made on March 7 at an extraordinary meeting of the Vidzeme Planning Region Development Council. The meeting was convened after the VPR received a letter from the Odesa Oblast State Administration requesting both humanitarian aid and any other assistance. In consultation with the Odesa Oblast Administration, a list of specific necessities has also been clarified so that assistance can be targeted and what is most needed can be delivered to Odesa.

Abolina reminds that on May 21, 2019, the VPR Development Council concluded a cooperation agreement with the Odesa Oblast Administration in Ukraine. The agreement is intended to strengthen cooperation between the two regions in various fields, including the development of trade, production and investment and other forms of economic cooperation.