Lithuanian Municipalities Receive Funding to Prepare for Evacuations
Lithuania has allocated €6 million to 56 municipalities to prepare for potential evacuations during a crisis. The funds will be used to equip temporary shelters and provide supplies for up to 50,000 evacuees.
Lithuania’s Interior Ministry announced on Tuesday that €6 million has been allocated to 56 municipalities to help them prepare for potential evacuations in the event of a crisis. The funding will allow municipalities to provide temporary accommodation for approximately 50,000 evacuees, equip over 1,000 evacuation center staff with necessary supplies, and train more than 200 volunteers to assist in evacuation operations.
This is the second time such funding has been specifically earmarked for evacuation preparedness. Last year, 20 municipalities received a total of €4.5 million, which was used to equip collective protection facilities, according to the ministry.
The newly allocated funds can be used to purchase equipment required for temporary accommodation, including folding beds, sleeping bags, drinking water storage containers, first-aid kits, furniture, as well as personal hygiene and sanitation kits. Municipalities may also use the funding to buy and install electricity generators in collective protection facilities.
The ministry reported that municipalities have already spent €2.3 million of the previous allocation and are currently capable of providing temporary accommodation for around 20,000 evacuees in collective protection facilities.
