Latvian help for Georgians

  • 2008-08-11
  • In cooperation with BNS and Latvian MFA

RIGA-Latviahas received an official request from Georgiafor humanitarian aid, said Latvian Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins.

Georgia hasasked Latvia tohelp with first aid materials, medicines, blood supplies for civilians. TheForeign Ministry has already spoken to the EmergencyMedicineCenterand the StateBloodDonorCenteron the issue.

The ministers will make the decision during the closed part of thegovernment meeting on Monday.

State Blood Donor Center spokeswoman Zane Mistre told BNS that there had been talks with thecenter, and if the government and the Health Ministry requests, the center willask people to be more active and donate blood.

The Latvian Red Cross organization plans to contact the International RedCross Federation and Georgia'srepresentatives to find out what assistance is most needed.

The Emergency Medicine Center head Martins Sics told BNS that it is too early to say what help and at what amount willbe sent to Georgia as information should be gathered what exactly the people inthe war territory need most.

"As it is a war territory, there are many specific ways how Latviamight help. Assistance is internationally coordinated to avoid a situation thatall countries are sending one kind of assistance to Georgia,"said Sics.

He said that the help should not be abstract, and Latviais ready to offer the assistance.

An initiative to raise donations for Georgiahas also been launched.  .

Responding to the Georgian government's appeal for international support,the Latvian-Georgian Cooperation foundation has started to raise donations for Georgia.Currently the organization is gathering information from governmental andpublic institutions to find out what civil defense measures in Georgianeed assistance most, said Andrejs Kruskops, chairman of the foundation.

The Foundation for Latvian-Georgian Cooperation has opened a special bankaccount for the fundraising purpose.