Most of the people who fled the war in Ukraine to Portugal intend to return, but admit the impossibility of returning home in the short term and seek longer-term solutions, reports the president of the Association of Ukrainians in Portugal .
Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, on February 24, Portugal has received more than 48,000 people who fled that country. Five months later, and with no end in sight to the Russian invasion, the majority’s intention is still to return home.
People do not believe that they are not going to return to Ukraine”, the president of the Association of Ukrainians in Portugal (AUP) began by saying, in statements to the agency.
Even so, added Pavlo Sadokha, “they have already realized that, by not having to stay in Portugal forever, We will have to stay longer and we have begun to look for solutions that last that long.
And with more or less ease, these solutions have been found thanks to cooperative work between the State, local authorities and civil society, among other things because most of the cases that reach the country “are not as serious as one might imagine. ”.
According to Pavlo Sadokha, a large part of the people who sought refuge in Portugal he already had a family living in the countryside and “they came knowing that they would find a solution here.” Others started from a favorable economic background, some even kept their jobs in a telecommuting regime and, therefore, it was not difficult to settle in the country.
The third group is the most vulnerable: Ukrainians who arrive in Portugal with few resources and without knowing anyone. They are mainly those who seek support, from the beginning in housing, such as the Porta de Entrada rental support program which, as published today, is not reaching everyone.
However, the president of the AUP says that this group represents a minority of Ukrainian refugees in Portugal, especially since, “normally, these people end up staying in countries closer to Ukraine”.
In an evaluation of the integration process of Ukrainian families, the President of the AUP says that he has done well and even in recent situations of people who were left homeless — second homes temporarily available by Portuguese who wanted them for free during the summer period — alternatives were quickly found.
From our support work, there were no more than 50 cases of people who were left without accommodation, but we always find solutions”, he explained.
Even so, and because they prefer to prepare for the eventuality of not being able to return home soon, Pavlo Sadokha says that “Ukrainians are trying not to depend on anyone.”
Job offers are not a problem, but according to the president of the AUP, the proposals often do not match the qualifications of Ukrainians and do not meet their expectations. “But they already know they have to hold on and they don’t intend to make a career here either,” he adds.
On the Education side, Pavlo Sadokha says that there were no problems and, despite expressing concern about the situation of children during the month of August, when many schools and kindergartens are closed, he says that there are already several initiatives to the occupation of free time. .
“In general, what people are looking for the most, in terms of support, is to find Portuguese language courses,” he said, considering that at this level there are still gaps in information, which he would like to be more accessible. .
Portugal has granted 48,657 temporary protections until this Monday of people who fled the war in Ukraine, 29,394 are attributed to women and 19,263 to men, of which about 27% are minors, according to the Foreign and Border Service (SEF).
The municipalities with the highest number of temporary protections granted continue to be Lisbon (10,280), Cascais (2,923), Porto (2,296), Sintra (1,663) and Albufeira (1,234).
Source: Observadora
