15 Ukrainian children arrived without their parents or alone.
The Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) has granted, since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, 59,159 temporary protection to Ukrainian citizens or foreigners residing in the country.
In a statement, the SEF guarantees that more than half, 34,436, are women, while 24,663 are men.
Lisbon was the municipality that received the most Ukrainian citizens: the capital received more than 12,000 refugees. Cascais (3,805), Porto (3,037), Sintra (2,006) and Albufeira (1,457) were the next municipalities.
Approximately 14,000 of these requests were granted to minors. Of the 14,191 requests granted, 15 were for minors who came alone or accompanied by non-family members and were referred to the Commission for the Protection of Children and Minors (CPCJ). In turn, the Public Prosecutor’s Office was informed of the presence of 737 minors “who presented themselves in the presence of a person other than their proven parent or legal representative, without any current or imminent danger”.
If the minor enters Portugal accompanied by a verified legal representative, no intervention mechanism is triggered. However, in the case of an unaccompanied child, his or her arrival is reported to a competent authority. If the child appears to be in danger or his/her physical integrity is endangered, his/her arrival is reported to the CPCJ. If the child is accompanied by someone other than his or her legal representative and is safe, the Public Prosecutor’s Office is informed.
