Lithuanian municipalities receive funding to prep for evacuations

Lithuania has allocated €6 million to 56 municipalities to help prepare for potential evacuations in case of a crisis, the Interior Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

Municipalities will be equipped to provide temporary accommodation for around 50,000 evacuees, supply more than 1,000 evacuation centre staff with the necessary equipment and train over 200 volunteers to assist in evacuation operations.​Funding specifically earmarked for evacuation preparedness was allocated for the first time last year, when 20 municipalities received a total of €4.5 million. According to the Interior Ministry, that funding was used to equip collective protection facilities.​The newly allocated funds may be used to purchase equipment required for the temporary accommodation of evacuees, including folding beds, sleeping bags, drinking water storage containers, first-aid kits, furniture, personal hygiene and sanitation kits.​Municipalities may also use the funding to purchase and install electricity generators in collective protection facilities.​According to the ministry, municipalities have already spent €2.3 million of the funding allocated previously and are currently capable of providing temporary accommodation for around 20,000 evacuees in collective protection facilities.