Lithuania has received humanitarian aid from 11 EU countries to help deal with the recent influx of migrants. Local businesses and residents have joined the efforts as well, donating food and clothing to migrant camps.
A disused Vydeniai school in Varėna District currently accommodates some 150 migrants, the majority of whom come from African countries.
“Some farmers, community representatives said that they feel bad that there’s so much opposition, they understand the situation in Lithuania,” said Vydeniai elder Genė Ramaškienė.
Several shops in Varėna began donating food products that are close to expiry.
“People sometimes buy ice cream to brighten up their [migrants'] day, have brought some honey today, bought some white bread as well.”
Migrants receive three meals a day. However, what they need most right now is warmer clothes, according to Ramaškienė.
“We drove to one elderly woman yesterday, she called and said that she could give up some of her children’s warm clothes.”
Migrants housed in Vydeniai school say that living conditions there are adequate, yet they miss being able to move freely.
“Everything’s okay here. It’s just that sometimes I would like to leave. I want to look around, but I can’t do it because of the fence,” said one of the asylum seekers. “I understand that it’s because we do not have any documents and came here illegally. We follow these rules, they need to be respected.”
Living conditions are poorer in temporary tent camps, like the one built in Rūdninkai military training ground, the Red Cross admits.
Poland has donated some heaters to use in tents. In Lithuanian climate, chilly nights can come as soon as September.
The Border Guards' School in Medininkai functions as a storage facility for humanitarian aid received from 11 EU countries. The shipments include beds, blankets, pillows, mattresses, and generators. The Border Guard Service distributes the aid to migrant camps.
“Without aid, such as tents, beds, they would probably just have to sleep on the ground, since we wouldn’t have any way to properly accommodate them,” said Deividas Kaminskas, head of the Border Guards' School.
Several businesses from Šiauliai have donated some 11,000 blankets worth over 20,000 euros.
“People need help, if the state cannot help them, then businesses can, and so can people. They did not escape because they wanted to escape. It is because it is harder to live there,” said one of the contributors, Stanislovas Grušas, owner of textile manufacturer NMF Porolon.
Newsletter
Every Friday morning.
