The state plans to divert around EUR 22.2 million of EU fund funding for the establishment of third category shelters, from which Riga could receive EUR 5.8 million funding for the improvement of 148 shelters, the Minister for the Interior Rihards Kozlovskis announced at a press conference on Tuesday, 15 April 15.
“Security above everything! For the improvement of 148 existing shelters Riga will receive EUR 5.8 million from EU funds. Shelters are in municipal properties - schools, kindergartens, social care centers. Thank you to the Ministry of the Interior for this special programme for the security of Latvian citizens. We greatly appreciate the expert-examination and ongoing cooperation of colleagues of the State Fire and Rescue Service in the survey of shelters and places safe for asylum,” – says Riga Mayor Vilnis Ķirsis.
“Co-operation with owners of private buildings is very important for Riga municipality, therefore together with the State Fire and Rescue Service, we plan to start a pilot project that promotes this co-operation. We will survey the basements of apartment buildings in order to develop guidelines for adapting these basements to the needs of shelters, as well as provide other types of support to apartment house owners,” says Gints Reinsons, the head of Riga City Council Civil Protection and Operational Information Administration.
The State Fire and Rescue Service in Riga has currently surveyed 579 premises suitable for asylum. Of the 317 premises owned by the municipality, 218 were found to be appropriate or partially appropriate. These include 118 schools, universities, scientific research or sports buildings, seven medical or health institutions, 15 social group shared houses, 42 administrative buildings (offices, cultural buildings, churches, museums, libraries, warehouses) and 36 other buildings such as apartment buildings, garages, industrial buildings, stations, shops and hotels. Riga Municipality has currently carried out the marking of the places of shelters at 49 sites, and there are eight other objects in the process.
In February, the Ministry of Interior submitted amendments to the Civil Protection and Disaster Management Law to the Saeima, which strengthens the concept of shelter in legislation, provides for mandatory construction of shelters for individual groups of buildings, as well as provides for regulations for establishment, adaptation and use of shelters in case of military conflict, war or disaster.
The Ministry of Interior has also prepared a draft Cabinet order with a list of facilities that will be eligible for ERAF funding to adapt and equip Category III shelters.
Category III shelters are designed to mitigate the impact of an explosion shock wave and chippings. They may be set up in basements or underground floors of different structures (for example, in basements of residential buildings, underground car parks, etc.), as well as on the ground floor.
Guidelines (recommendations) on minimum requirements for the installation of a Category III shelter are available from: https://www.vugd.gov.lv/lv/vadlinijas-rekomendacijas-par-minimalajam-prasibam-iii-kategorijas-patvertnes-ierikosanai
Information was prepared by Mārtiņš Vilemsons, Project Coordinator at External Communication Division of Riga Municipality Communication Department, e-mail: martins.vilemsons@riga.lv.
