UNHCR in the Baltic Countries
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has in recent years strengthened its presence in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania and has staff in each of the three countries.
We work closely with Governments, authorities, civil society – including a number of partner organizations – as well as other relevant stakeholders to promote the rights and well-being of refugees, asylum-seekers and stateless persons in the Baltic countries.
UNHCR has offices in Vilnius, Lithuania, in Tallinn, Estonia, and in Riga, Latvia.
The Ukraine Regional Refugee Response Plan
In 2024, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are included in the Ukraine Regional Refugee Response Plan. The Refugee Response Plan (RRP) is coordinated by UNHCR and is a multi-partner and multi-sector plan that serves to complement the respective Government-led responses to provide protection and support for refugees from Ukraine.
To complement the Government-led responses in each of the Baltic countries, UNHCR and partners are providing support in key areas such as basic needs, food security, health, protection and livelihoods. The aim is to provide dignified assistance, expand access to social and economic opportunities and advance the social cohesion for refugees from Ukraine who are already present as well as potential new arrivals.
The plan does not have a pooled fund at its disposal, but serves as a fundraising platform, providing a financial outline of the required funding for the planned activities by the different partners, and allowing for all participating partners to fundraise on their own.
Read more:
- Regional Refugee Response Plan for Estonia (in English)
- Regional Refugee Response Plan for Estonia (in Estonian)
- Regional Refugee Response Plan for Latvia (in English)
- Regional Refugee Response Plan for Latvia (in Latvian)
- Regional Refugee Response Plan for Lithuania (in English)
- Regional Refugee Response Plan for Lithuania (in Lithuanian)
Baltic Refugee Response Plan reports
Estonia 2024 Inter-Agency Mid-Year Report
Click here to read the mid year report on Ukraine refugee response plan partners’ activities and achievements in Estonia in 2024.
Latvia 2024 Inter-Agency Mid-Year Report
Click here to read the mid-year report on Ukraine refugee response plan partners’ activities and achievements in Latvia in 2024.
Lithuania 2024 Inter-Agency Mid-Year Report
Click here to read the mid year report on Ukraine refugee response plan partners’ activities and achievements in Lithuania in 2024.
Estonia Inter-Agency Operational Update
Click here to read the report on Ukraine refugee response plan partners’ activities and achievements in Estonia in 2023.
Latvia Inter-Agency Operational Update
Click here to read the report on Ukraine refugee response plan partners’ activities and achievements in Latvia in 2023.
Lithuania Inter-Agency Operational Update
Click here to read the report on Ukraine refugee response plan partners’ activities and achievements in Lithuania in 2023.
Refugee Response Plan Reporting Dashboard
This dashboard visualises ongoing reporting by partners in the Baltics under the Refugee Response Plan.
Regional Refugee Response Plan reports
Ukraine Situation – 2024 RRP Mid-Year Report
Click here to read the mid-year report on the 2024 Regional Refugee Response Plan for the Ukraine Situation.
Country Quarterly Updates
Estonia Quarterly Update
Here, you can read the latest quarterly operational update on UNHCR’s work in Estonia.
Latvia Quarterly Update
Here, you can read the latest quarterly operational update on UNHCR’s work in Latvia.
Lithuania Quarterly Update
Here, you can read the latest quarterly operational update on UNHCR’s work in Lithuania.
Working with Partners
UNHCR works closely with national partner organizations to provide legal, psychosocial, and integration support as well as protection, awareness raising and advocacy activities.
In Estonia, activities carried out by UNHCR and partners include providing legal assistance to asylum-seekers and refugees and conducting regular monitoring of conditions at reception and detention centers. UNHCR and partners also organize regular community events to strengthen integration and to support participants’ mental health and well-being.
In Latvia, UNHCR and partners carry out a range of activities including providing legal assistance to asylum-seekers and refugees, working with municipal social services on supporting refugees, and organizing support groups for asylum-seekers to help with finding housing and with integrating into the community.
In Lithuania, UNHCR and partners provide legal assistance to asylum-seekers and refugees, conduct regular protection monitoring at border crossing points and elsewhere, and organize art therapy and social events for refugee and asylum-seeking children, amongst other activities.