Latvia has taken in 15 Afghans, and is prepared to take in another eight families

RIGA - Latvia has so far taken in two local contract staff from the Afghanistan Office of the European Directorate-General for Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid (ECHO) and their families, altogether 15 people, LETA was informed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Ministry noted that Latvia had done so in response to a request from the High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, to rescue local contract staff of the ECHO's Afghanistan office.

The 15 persons are currently staying at the asylum seekers center of the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs in Mucenieki.

At the same time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has shown its readiness to host three more staff members with their families, as well as up to five Afghan staff who have worked in NATO's international structures, along with their families.

The Ministry said it was working with the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Defense and international partners to help several categories of Afghan citizens in who had once helped Latvia and who were at risk after the Taliban captured Kabul.

First of all, they are Afghans identified by the Latvian Ministry of Defense, who once worked together with the National Armed Forces (NAF) contingent in Afghanistan. They are also Afghans who have worked for EU structures in Afghanistan. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also shown readiness to host Afghans who have worked in NATO's international missions.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the evacuation of these people is an extremely complex process, given the tense situation in Afghanistan and Kabul Airport.