On 7 March First Lady of Latvia, Mrs Andra Levite, visited a group of Ukrainians that arrived in two busses to Latvia on 7 March to escape the war in Ukraine.
‘I would have preferred to meet under different circumstances today. But I do hope that you have found the security here in Latvia, while also keeping a close contact with your relatives, friends and neighbours in Ukraine to know they are well,’ Andra Levite said to the fleeing Ukrainians. ‘My family were also refugees. I know what it is like to grow up in circumstances like these. I hope this transition will not be unnecessarily long and you will not have to spend years in exile and you will soon return home to your cities,’ Mrs Levite added.
Ukrainian refugees shared their stories of hiding from shelling and why they decided to flee Ukraine. They also spoke to First Lady of Latvia about their emotions leaving their bomb ravaged homes behind. They raised the issue of helping those Ukrainians who desperately need help while being stranded in their homes in Ukraine due to old age, being bed-ridden and unable to move, as well as others who suffer from visual impairments, hearing and physical impediments.
A 16-people group has found a temporary home in social care home ‘SenRīga’ because some of its members suffer from physical disabilities. Mrs Andra Levite is deeply grateful to Latvian Umbrella Body for Disability Organisations SUSTENTO, and its COB Gunta Anča, and the Samaritan Association of Latvia, and its director Andris Bērziņš, for helping Ukrainians reach Latvia and find shelter here.
