The Immigration and Border Service (SEF) has already granted 53,434 temporary shelters to citizens and residents of Ukraine, of which 13,673 are minors, since the start of the war in the country in February, the Police announced Monday.
According to the most recent data from the SEF, published today, of the total number of temporary protections (53,434) in Portugal for Ukrainian citizens and foreigners residing in Ukraine, 31,504 were for women and 21,930 for men.
The municipalities with the highest number of temporary protections granted continue to be Lisbon (11,589), Cascais (3,242), Porto (2,645), Sintra (1,819) and Albufeira (1,304), according to the SEF.
As for the 13,673 minors, Portuguese law divides them into “accompanied” and “unaccompanied” categories.
In the case of minors accompanied by their father or accredited legal representative, there is no request for intervention from any other entity, while in the case of unaccompanied minors, in the presence of a person other than their father or accredited legal representative, but without or danger imminent., there is a communication to the Public Ministry (MP) of the geographical area of residence declared to the SEF, for the appointment of a legal representative and eventual promotion of a protection process for the minor.
In the case of unaccompanied minors, but in the presence of a person other than their parent or accredited legal representative, but in current or imminent danger to life or serious impairment to the physical or mental integrity of the child or young person, the contact is immediate. made by the Commission for the Protection of Children and Adolescents (CPCJ) within the scope of its competence, to adopt urgent procedures and provide due assistance.
There is also the figure of the “unaccompanied and abandoned minor”, considering that “this child is in current or imminent danger” and the CPCJ is immediately contacted in the area of its competence so that it adopts urgent measures and provides proper assistance.
Since the beginning of the conflict, on February 24, the SEF has already communicated to the Public Ministry (MP) 734 cases of minors who appeared in the presence of a person other than their father or accredited legal representative, without current or imminent danger.
He also informed the CPCJ of 15 unaccompanied minors and/or in the presence of persons other than their parents.
The military offensive launched on February 24 by Russia in Ukraine caused the flight of millions of people and the death of thousands of civilians, according to the United Nations, which places this refugee crisis as the worst in Europe since World War II (1939) .-1945).
Source: TSF
