Since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine until yesterday, the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) has already received 1,670 requests for temporary protection.
Most refugees have entered the country by plane and formalised the request for temporary protection, with most requests coming from Ukrainian citizens, but there are also other nationalities trying to get out of Ukraine safely.
Associations of Ukrainians in Portugal guarantee that there are many more who have already sought refuge in Portugal by entering the land borders. Of these, the majority will have been rescued by family members living here in Portugal, who have driven to the Ukrainian neighbouring borders to pick up their loved ones. Men between the ages of 18 and 60 are not able top leave easily, as the decree of Martial Law in Ukraine mobilised them for war, even if they have Ukrainian and Portuguese nationality.
There are 40,000 Ukrainians living in Portugal, of which one in four also has Portuguese nationality.
If you would like to assist in some way, the platform in Portugal that centralises the requests of help and the help offers is https://www.wehelpukraine.org/Home.aspx
You can also see information on how to help on the Safe Communities Portugal website here: https://www.safecommunitiesportugal.com/helping-ukraine-in-this-time-of-crisis/
