27 December, Vitebsk /Olga Bogacheva - BELTA/. A series of charity events for homeless people will be held in the Vitebsk region in the run-up to the New Year, the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee’s Ideological Work Department informed a BELTA correspondent. On the instructions of the Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, Alexander Kosinets, this week in all regions of the oblast, care and attention from local authorities will be extended not only to children, low-income residents, and lonely elderly people, but also to homeless individuals. All homeless people will be accommodated in temporary shelters (night shelters and medical institutions), undergo medical examinations, and measures will be taken to provide them with hot meals and clothing. Police officers will assist them in finding relatives and restoring documents. A total of about 80 homeless individuals are registered in the Vitebsk region, with the majority of them – around 50 people – residing in the regional centre, reported Vladimir Pranko, Deputy Head of the Public Order Protection and Prevention Department of the Internal Affairs Directorate of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee. Preventive measures with this category of individuals are regularly carried out in the region: the majority of them have already been issued passports and are registered with the police. Night shelters for homeless people operate in Vitebsk and Orsha. -0-

BELTA