Temporary protection to 53,434 fleeing war in Ukraine

  • Lusa
  • 17 October 2022

According to the SEF, of the total number of temporary protection permits (53,434) granted in Portugal to Ukrainian citizens and foreigners living in Ukraine, 31,504 went to women and 21,930 to men.

Portugal’s immigration and borders service, SEF, has granted 53,434 temporary protection permits to Ukrainian citizens and residents, 13,673 of them to minors, since the beginning of the war in the country in February, the service announced on Monday.

According to the latest data from SEF, released today, of the total number of temporary protection permits (53,434) granted in Portugal to Ukrainian citizens and foreigners living in Ukraine, 31,504 went to women and 21,930 to men.

The municipalities with the highest number of temporary protection permits granted continue to be Lisbon (11,589), Cascais (3,242), Porto (2,645), Sintra (1,819) and Albufeira (1,304), says SEF.

Regarding the 13,673 minors, Portuguese legislation divides them into the categories of “accompanied” and “unaccompanied”.

In the case of children accompanied by the parent or proven legal representative there is no request for intervention by any other entity, while for unaccompanied minors, in the presence of someone other than their parent or proven legal representative, without current or imminent danger, there is a communication to the public prosecutor (MP) of the geographical area of residence declared to SEF, for the appointment of a legal representative and possible initiation of protection proceedings for the minor.

In the case of unaccompanied children in the presence of another person other than their proven parent or legal representative, in current or imminent danger to the life or serious impairment of physical or psychological integrity of the child or young person, the Commission for the Protection of Children and Young People (CPCJ) of the area of jurisdiction is immediately contacted to adopt urgent procedures and provide appropriate assistance.

There is also the figure for the “unaccompanied and left to their own devices”, where it is considered that “this child is in present or imminent danger” and the CPCJ of the area of jurisdiction is immediately contacted, to adopt urgent procedures and provide adequate assistance.

Since the beginning of the conflict, on 24 February, SEF has already communicated to the public prosecution service (MP) 734 cases of minors who have presented themselves in the presence of someone other than their proven parent or legal representative, without any current or imminent danger.

It also communicated to the CPCJ 15 minors unaccompanied and/or in the presence of persons other than their parents.