So Much Within A Week

People have asked us what is happening in Portugal and what the Portuguese are saying about the war in Ukraine.  This will be a short blog posting about our experiences and what Portugal is doing.

On Feb. 27th a simple plea from several Portuguese Ukrainians on the "Expats in the Algarve" FB group page asked for donations and stated that a truck would be leaving for Ukraine in a couple of days.  The next day Caroline offered up her yellow van with flower stickers to receive donations in a local supermarket parking lot.  She brought a book with her thinking it would be slow.  

We stopped by early to drop off what we could carry on our bikes and add money to their gas fund. Within an hour her van was jamed full. 

The next day TWO large trucks departed for Ukraine and that just was the beginning. 

 Ukrainians constitute the seceond-largest foreign community residing in Portugal behind Brazilians.  It is only natural to expidite the acceptance of refuges into Portugal, many of whom have family here.  On March 3rd a 50-seat Municiple bus left our town of Olhão for Poland with a translator and a nurse on board to rescue refugees from the war zone.  

Olhão Mayor, António Miguel Pina, emphasised that “the Ukrainian community in Olhão is one of the most important and respected; we couldn't help but support when our countrymen are going through an ordeal of this nature. I am sure that, once again, the people of Olhão will join en masse in this movement of international solidarity in favour of the victims of war in Ukraine”.

We saw the bus arrive on March 7 with 47 women & children

Within a week, Portugal widened its efforts coordinating donations and transport throughout the country, setting up social networks with translators and healthcare and developing public service webpages.  The Government Imigration Service opened additional counters staffed with volunteers and established Temporary Protection for people proving automatic attribution of a temporary residence permit (like we will have). Recognition of professional licenses, opportunities to complete higher education and even fast-tracking Portuguese language classes are established.

Humanitarian flight sponsored by TAP airlines brought over 200 people to Portugal

A government registry quickly had 20,000 jobs lined up and said Portugal can receive "tens of thousands of Ukrainians".  Subsidies are offered for people who can work in agriculture in the interior of the country where Portugal is losing population.  With a decade of declining numbers in active younger population, Portugal has a real necessity for people.  This enormous solidarity from the Portuguese society can help provide some future during these uncertain times.

We have been truely awed by the support and welcoming and how quickly infrasturcture was put in place in this small country to provide for the people of this horrendous war. 

trans: Ukrainian Mission March 13, 2022  How To Help