Portugal Situation Report Wednesday 13^th April 2022

Introduction

Let us start with some good news – That is according to IPMA forecasts, by the Easter weekend temperatures in some parts of the mainland may reach 28C.  This will be welcomed by many tourists that will be in Portugal over Easter and excellent news for the tourism industry. We will as normal keep you up to date as the weekend approaches.

Last week I was privileged to visit the 112 call centre in Lisbon which handles all calls on the mainland south of Santarem. It was an extremely interesting visit and gave me the opportunity to see how calls were handled. During my 45 minutes there some 150 calls were received. Three essential points were made during the visit; one ensuring that calls are for genuine emergencies as some 65% of calls received are non-emergency. The second point is that it is vital that callers continue to wait until the call in answered. This may take time when there are many calls – minutes rather than seconds. All incoming calls are in a queuing system, so if you terminate a call and call again a few minutes later, you will be at the back of a queue.

The third point is to remain calm – speak clearly and slowly. This is easier said than done when a fire is raging towards your home! However it is a fact that in an emergency people are naturally under considerable stress and when speaking in a different language to the operator’s native tongue, sometimes with strong regional accents, effective communication is more challenging.

APAV, the victims support organisation in Portugal, have just produced their Annual Statistical report for 2021. Of the cases reported to them during the year almost 77% were for domestic violence including 19% where the victim was a man.  We posted the report yesterday.

Unfortunately domestic violence is one of the highest reported crimes in Portugal and we await Government’s Annual crime report (RASI) which is normally published around this time. We are working with APAV regarding holding a seminar in the Algarve on this subject and will publish more details in due course. The APAV report can be read here: https://apav.pt/apav_v3/images/press/Relatorio_Anual_2021.pdf?fbclid=IwAR2jvcr8pFkDoYDi5K00JvaVrCHjgkEs7g8NsXudDwtlzqK2wg9qI6nIrq8

Turning to the earthquake situation in São Jorge Island in the Azores, for the second consecutive night, the island of São Jorge did not register any tremors felt by the population, the Azores Seismovolcanic Information and Surveillance Centre (CIVISA) reported yesterday. About 240 earthquakes felt by the population have been identified since the beginning of the crisis, on March 19. The island maintains the volcanic alert level V4 (threat of eruption) out of a total of seven, where V0 means “state of rest” and V6 “eruption in progress”. Let us hope this can be reduced soon.

A reminder that yesterday the Government extended the alert situation due to the covid-19 pandemic until April 22, according to a statement from the Council of Ministers. “The resolution was approved extending the declaration of the alert situation, within the scope of the covid-19 disease pandemic, until 23:59 on April 22, 2022”, says the statement.

According to the Government, the resolution “keeps the measures currently in force unchanged”. Among the measures in force is the mandatory use of a mask in public indoor spaces, health services and transport. For those who do not have the booster dose of the vaccine against covid-19, the negative test for the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus remains mandatory in visits to homes and health establishments, taking into account that they are groups of special vulnerability.

With that have a safe day

Covid-19

Infarmed suspends the sale of surgical masks from two manufacturers

Surgical masks from two manufacturers with improper CE marking in the national market were identified. Infarmed explained that all legal requirements applicable at European level were not met, including the fact that the technical documentation is incomplete.

As announced by the National Authority for Medicines and Health Products, surgical masks type IIR, from the manufacturers Borgstena Textile Portugal, Lda, and Plasfer – Indústria e Comércio, Lda have been identified on the national market. Infarmed explains that in both cases the masks have improper CE marking, as there is no compliance with all the legal requirements applicable at European level, including the fact that the technical documentation is incomplete.

As a preventive measure, Infarmed ordered the immediate suspension of commercialization and withdrawal from the market. 

News

Independent commission has already received 290 testimonies of sexual abuse in the church

The independent Commission created in January to investigate sexual abuse in the Portuguese Catholic Church has already received 290 valid testimonies from victims and 16 cases have already been referred to the Public Ministry.

In an assessment of the first three months of work, held this Tuesday at a press conference at the Calouste Gunlbenkian Foundation, in Lisbon, the former Minister of Justice Álvaro Laborinho Lúcio, who is a member of the Commission, stated that among the 290 validated testimonies, 16 are still did not prescribe and, therefore, were sent to the Public Prosecutor’s Office.

Created in January to investigate sexual abuse in the Catholic Church in Portugal, the Independent Commission had already received 214 testimonies from victims, aged between 15 and 88, in the first month of activity.

Complaints and testimonies can reach the commission by completing an online survey at darvozaosilencio.org , by calling +351917110000 (daily between 10:00 am and 8:00 pm), by email, at geral@darvozaosilencio.org and by letter to “Commissão Independente”, Apartado 012079, EC Picoas 1061-011 Lisbon.

By the end of the year, the commission intends to collect testimonies and complaints from people who have suffered abuse in childhood and adolescence, up to the age of 18. At the end of its work, a report will be prepared, to be delivered to the Portuguese Episcopal Conference (CEP), which will decide what actions to take.

Portuguese Consulate in Shanghai offers assistance to Portuguese in difficulties with the lockdown due to covid-19

Consular help is made available to Portuguese living in the Chinese city, where residents are complaining about food deliveries and other needs

The Portuguese consulate in Shanghai on Tuesday encouraged Portuguese citizens based there to seek consular assistance if they encounter difficulties, given the lockdown measures imposed in the Chinese city, due to an outbreak of covid-19

In a statement, the diplomatic representation warned that even asymptomatic cases are placed in quarantine centers designated by Chinese authorities, a measure that has resulted in tens of thousands of cases being isolated in makeshift facilities.

“From what has been shared by the [Chinese] authorities, people who are in the quarantine centers will have to test negative for covid-19 there a certain number of times until they can be discharged”, reads the note issued by the Ministry of Health.

“Although this consulate general cannot prevent this process, as it is the exclusive competence of the Chinese authorities, if you are in this situation we encourage you to call the emergency number of this Consulate General: 159 2155 3994”, he said.

China continues to react to Covid-19 outbreaks with strict measures, as part of the ‘zero cases’ strategy, despite rising economic and social costs.

These measures include isolating all those infected in designated facilities and locking down entire cities, including closing supermarkets.

Shanghai authorities said they are securing daily supplies for residents following complaints about food deliveries and other necessities. Regarding the problems related to the food supply, the consulate acknowledged that there have been “many difficulties”. The diplomatic representation recommended that e-commerce platforms be used to obtain essential goods, but recalled that delivery can take up to three days.

More than 640 fines in operation on seat belts and child seats

Lisbon, 12 Apr 2022 (Lusa) – The GNR registered more than 640 administrative offenses for lack or incorrect use of seat belts and/or child seats in an operation that took place last week and inspected more than 17,000 drivers.

In a statement, the GNR explains that during the ‘RoadPol – Seatbelt’ operation, aimed at the use of seat belts and a child restraint system, it took place between April 4th and 10th throughout the mainland and resulted in 646 administrative offenses .

In total, 557 were for lack or incorrect use of seat belts and 89 for lack or incorrect use of seat belts and/or child restraint system, he adds.

In this operation, the military of the Territorial Commands and the National Traffic Unit (UNT) inspected 17,158 drivers.

Portugal will “soon” send more than 99 tons of medical and military material

The Defence Minister reaffirmed “Portugal’s solidarity and support for the Ukrainian resistance against Russian aggression”.

Portugal will “soon” send more than 99 tons of medical and military material to Ukraine, Defense Minister Helena Carreiras said on Monday in a note on the social network Twitter.

In the publication in which the minister appears with the Ukrainian ambassador to Portugal, Inna Ohnivets, in a photograph, it can be read that “Portugal’s support for the Ukrainian resistance against Russian aggression” is reaffirmed.

Last Wednesday, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, João Gomes Cravinho, had said, upon arrival at a NATO meeting in Brussels, which Portugal had already sent between 60 and 70 tons of war material to Ukraine and would send more “in a near future”.

Economy

Inflation hits highest level in March since June 1994

The year-on-year change in the consumer price index (CPI) was 5.3% in March.

“The year-on-year change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) was 5.3% in March 2022, a rate higher by 1.1 percentage points (pp) than that observed in the previous month”, as it is the “highest value since June 1994”, released the INE, thus confirming the values ​​predicted in the quick estimates released at the end of March.

The underlying inflation indicator (total index excluding unprocessed food and energy products) also accelerated, registering a change of 3.8% (3.2% in February).

The variation of the index for energy products increased to 19.8%, compared to 15% in the previous month, which corresponds to the highest value since February 1991.

In turn, the index referring to unprocessed food products changed by 5.8%, compared to 3.7% in February.

The monthly change in the CPI was 2.5% (0.4% in the previous month and 1.4% in March 2021), while the average change in the last twelve months was 2.2% (1.8% in February).

Regarding the harmonized index of consumer prices (HICP), there was a year-on-year change of 5.5%, representing the highest value since the beginning of the HICP, in 1996.

This rate is 1.1 percentage points higher than in the previous month and 2.0 percentage points lower than the value estimated by Eurostat for the Euro area, “mainly reflecting considerable differences in the behaviour of energy goods prices, in particular electricity “, pointed out the INE.

 

Portugal Situation Report Wednesday 6^th April 2022

Introduction

Good morning – With the withdrawal of Russian forces from the outskirts of Kyiv, the true horror of the war is beginning to emerge. Mass graves have been found and there’s evidence of civilians having been shot dead after their feet and hands were bound. Images of the bodies of civilians in the streets of Bucha have led to international condemnation of Russia and further accusations that its forces are committing war crimes. The International Criminal Court has already begun investigating whether war crimes are taking place and Ukraine has also set up a team to gather evidence. Ukrainian prosecutors say they are investigating 4,684 alleged Russian war crimes, but the number is growing by the day.

But what is a war crime? It may not seem like it, but “even war has rules”, as the International Committee of the Red Cross puts it.  These are contained in treaties called the Geneva Conventions and a string of other international laws and agreements. Civilians cannot be deliberately attacked – nor can the infrastructure that is vital to their survival.  Some weapons are banned because of the indiscriminate or appalling suffering they cause – such as anti-personnel landmines and chemical or biological weapons. The sick and wounded must be cared for – including injured soldiers, who have rights as prisoners of war. Serious offences such as murder, rape or mass persecution of a group are known as “crimes against humanity”.

Genocide is defined in international law as the deliberate killing of people from a particular national, ethnic, racial or religious group, with the intention of destroying the group – whether entirely or in part. As such, genocide is a specific war crime that is bigger than the illegal killing of civilians. The law requires proof of the intent to destroy the group.

Whereas many world leaders have labelled the atrocities as “war crimes,” on Monday Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Russia should be investigated for “war crimes AND genocide.”  He added “We will do everything possible to ensure that those who committed these crimes do not go unpunished and can appear before the International Criminal Court to respond to these alleged crimes against humanity, war crimes, and why not say it — genocide,” Sanchez continued.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) investigates and prosecutes individual war criminals who are not before the courts of individual states. Establishing the “chain of command” is very important for any future trials – including either where a leader has authorised an atrocity – or turned a blind eye to it. It is vitally important therefore that all evidence, including forensic evidence is gathered as quickly as possible to avoid it being destroyed or contaminated, plus the testimony of eye witness accounts.

Meanwhile the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres has called for an independent investigation into “the images of civilians killed in Bucha, Ukraine”. This came after Russian troops withdrew from the town on the outskirts of Kyiv, images of bodies lying in the streets subsequently emerged and members of media organisations also saw corpses. A gruesome video of the atrocities was shown by President Zelensky at the UN Security Council yesterday in the presence of Russian UN Security Council representative Vasily Nebenzya, the latter describing it as “a staged provocation by the Kiev regime” and of “fake dead bodies”. Moscow denies the charge and has called the allegations a “monstrous forgery”, as reported in the Russian state-owned RIA news agency. The President of the Security Council described the images shown as “harrowing”.

Reaction to the atrocities has been swift from the international community. EU President yesterday afternoon proposed wides ranging and more severe sanctions against Russia. Italy, Denmark, Spain and Sweden expelled a total of 73 Russian diplomats in a new wave of anti-Moscow moves. This was followed by the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MNE) declaring ten Russian officials as persona non grata and informed the Russian ambassador to Portugal that these officials have two weeks to leave the national territory. According to a count made this afternoon by the French news agency AFP, the number of Russian diplomats expelled from several European Union countries since the invasion of Ukraine amounts to at least 260.

The vital work of journalists covering the Ukraine war cannot be overstated. It is mainly through their work that the outside world becomes aware of the events and atrocities that are taking place. This is obviously at great risk to themselves with some 18 journalists killed so far covering the war. The Ukrainian Ministry of Culture and Information also added that another 13 journalists had been injured, eight abducted or detained and three others were still reported missing.

 

Turning to the Azores – The president of the Civil Protection of the Azores warned on Monday that the seismovolcanic crisis on the island of São Jorge “is not over” and could take days or months, during which the population should maintain “vigilance and stay calm”. Having been monitoring this daily, we can see that although the number of earthquakes felt by the population has slowed down considerably the risk remains.

A team of scientists from the Instituto Volcanológico das Canárias (INVOLCAN), Spain, travelled today to the island of São Jorge, in the Azores, to support Portuguese researchers and intensify the work of Volcanic Surveillance. This shows good international collaboration utilising best practices and experience.

The civil protection authorities continue to monitor closely and evacuation plans and other measures are in place, or being put in place should an evacuation become necessary. An update record of events and latest news can be found on our website, which is updated daily.

With that have a Safe Day

Health

State reduced by 10% private use to reduce waiting lists

Private hospitals registered a 25% growth in the total number of surgeries in 2021, but had a 10% reduction in the number of surgeries contracted by the SNS compared to 2020, within the scope of the Integrated System for the Management of Registrations for Surgery (SIGIC) said Óscar Gaspar at a press conference, where he took stock of the activity of private hospitals last year.

The question that arises has nothing to do with our availability, which not only remained but was superior, but on the part of the SNS it was understood that, on the one hand, there were surgeries that were internalized and it was not necessary to resort to third parties for them to be made and, on the other hand, some will have been made by other entities”, he underlined.

Taking stock of the activity of private hospitals in 2021, Óscar Gaspar said that 2021 “was still a year very marked by covid-19”, but there was “an intense work” to recover the activity that was not carried out in 2020 as a result of confinement and of the DGS rules.

“But we recovered what had not been done in 2020 and we still added many clinical diagnostic acts in relation to 2021”, said the official based on data provided by hospitals to APHP, which, he said, “gives a reliable portrait” of the activity.

He added that the investment reported in 2021 was more than 150 million euros and was due to the construction of some hospitals and the acquisition of equipment and technology.

According to the National Statistics Institute (INE), there are 129 private hospitals in Portugal, which in 2021 were responsible for 8,286,932 consultations, 995,148 episodes of urgency and 222,000 large and medium surgeries.

“We are talking about quite significant figures”: 22,000 consultations, 2,660 episodes of urgency and 564 surgeries per day, on average” he explained.

Ukraine: Marcelo defends investigation into “intolerable massacre” in Bucha

Lisbon, 04 Apr 2022 (Lusa) The President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, stated  that there should be an investigation into what he described as “an intolerable, inhuman, shocking massacre” in Bucha, on the outskirts of Kiev, Ukraine.

“It is an intolerable, inhumane, shocking massacre, a brutal attack on human rights and international humanitarian law and, therefore, it can only provoke the repudiation of the international community, which will naturally want to find out what happened, investigate what happened”, the head of state told journalists at the Centro Cultural de Belém, in Lisbon.

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa added that if the investigation proves facts “in line with what is thought to have happened” in Bucha, this will “lead to initiatives so that those who are competent, such as the International [Criminal] Court, can appreciate”.

According to the President of the Republic, there is no doubt that “what happened is unacceptable”, but “in order to specifically hold responsible who did it, who the people were, under what conditions, how, for that, the matter of fact is fundamental”.

Asked if he agrees that there is enough data to call the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, a war criminal, as did the President of the United States of America, Joe Biden, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa replied that, “for those who believe in the rule of law, have to be the courts to convict”.

“One cannot properly declare a war criminal without a court decision, it can be said that there are behaviors that clearly point to war crimes – and that is what I said, by the way, in the Government’s inaugural speech, when I spoke possibly criminal liability, in addition to an attack on humanitarian law”, he considered.

The head of state said that one should “obviously hold accountable who should be held accountable politically and then legally”.

Two-thirds of Ukrainians who arrived in Portugal are still unable to work

Refugees cannot work without a temporary protection certificate. Delays are being caused, according to the SEF, by the Tax Authority

Of the 27,000 requests registered by the Aliens and Borders Service (SEF) for refugees arriving from Ukraine, only 8,500 certificates of granting of residence permits under the temporary protection regime have yet been issued. Without this certificate, according to the newspaper “Público”, people cannot start working or access support. Of these 27,000 requests, a third are for minors and of the 8,500 already issued, 700 are for children and young people under the age of 18.

According to the SEF, the delay in issuing certificates is caused by the delay by the Tax Authority (AT), since the documents are issued as soon as the Social Security (SS), the National Health Service (SNS) and the AT issue the respective user numbers and tax identification.

The press service of the Ministry of Finance states that the AT “is, as a rule, assigning the NIF within 24 hours after receiving the identification elements of the migrants from the SEF”. However, it states that there are “some occasional situations of need for additional confirmation of the identities of migrants, namely, when the respective data are similar, but not entirely coincident with those of other taxpayers to whom a TIN has been previously assigned.” 

Border training course for GNR military starts Wednesday

Lisbon, Apr 5, 2022 (Lusa) – The GNR will have, as of Wednesday, the first border training course within the scope of the transfer of competences from the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF), the Ministry of Administration announced today Internal (MAI).

“A total of 18 trainers and nine internship supervisors from the SEF will teach the course to 44 GNR soldiers at Escola da Guarda”, in Queluz, followed by an internship at the maritime borders of Lisbon, Funchal and Leixões, says a statement released. by MAI.

Considering the beginning of the training process to be “fundamental” for a “sustained and effective transfer of competences” from the SEF to the other authorities, given the extinction of the institution scheduled for May 12, the MAI also revealed that 44 PSP agents will start the respective training course on 18 April, with a subsequent internship at the air borders of Lisbon, Faro and Funchal.

The announcement of the first border training courses follows the MAI’s assurance that the reform of the SEF will indeed take place.

In a response sent to Lusa after meetings on Monday with the Union of Career Investigation and Inspection of the Foreigners and Borders Service (SCIF/SEF), the Union of Investigation, Inspection and Border Inspectors (SIIFF) and the Union of Employees of the Service and Borders (SINSEF), MAI guaranteed that “the entire restructuring process will be clear and transparent” and in dialogue with the workers’ structures.

Without going forward with dates, the MAI indicated that the minister José Luis Carneiro assured the unions the “maintenance of the remuneration statute” of the employees, that “everything will be done in order to protect the functional status” and “preservation of a dignified career, with prospects for progression”, as well as the “possibility of accessing leadership positions, exercising functions in European and international bodies or immigration liaison officers”.

The extinction of the SEF, decided by the previous Government and approved in November 2021 in the Assembly of the Republic, was postponed from January to May due to the covid-19 pandemic.

The law passed in parliament determines that the current administrative powers of the SEF in relation to foreign citizens will be exercised by a new institution, the Portuguese Agency for Migration and Asylum (APMA), and by the Institute of Registries and Notaries, in addition to transfer police powers to PSP, GNR and the Judiciary Police.

 

Portugal Situation Report Wednesday 30^th March 2022

Introduction

Good morning – On the 27^th March the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, accepted the proposal for the appointment of Secretaries of State presented by the Prime Minister-designate, António Costa. Included in these were the Secretaries of State under the Minister of Internal Administration José Luís Carneiro, namely:  Secretary of State for Internal Administration – Isabel Oneto and the Secretary of State for Civil Protection – Patrícia Gaspar.

In the case of Patricia Gasper she remains in the post she has held for the last two years and for Isabel Oneto it is a return to the post she previously held until October 2019. Both have considerable experience and Safe Communities Portugal has a long establish direct and productive liaison with them – thus facilitating our work.

The third Secretary of State who remains in post and we have close dealings with, is Rita Marques, but with an increased portfolio as Secretary of State for Tourism, Commerce and Services. We look forward to our continued collaboration with her.

The new Government is sworn in today at 1700 hrs.

Again mainland Portugal is being affected by poor air quality. This situation is due to the intrusion of an air mass from the deserts of North Africa, which transports suspended dust and crosses mainland Portugal, increasing the concentrations of naturally occurring inhalable particles in the air.

The DGS advises the population to avoid prolonged efforts, limit physical activity outdoors and avoid exposure to risk factors, such as tobacco smoke and contact with irritating products. Children, the elderly, patients with chronic respiratory problems and cardiovascular patients should, whenever possible, remain inside buildings and, preferably, with the windows closed. These dusts can have effects on human health, especially on the most vulnerable population, whose care must be redoubled during the occurrence of these situations.

Turning to the war in Ukraine – hopefully a sign of some breakthrough. According to the Turkish Foreign Minister yesterday, the negotiations – which were initially scheduled to continue this Wednesday, ended. Speaking on television, Mevlut Cavusoglu said the meeting (the first presidential meeting in more than two weeks) had made the most progress since the two sides began negotiating. According to the Turkish minister, understandings were reached on some of the issues. The Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministers are expected to meet in the future to discuss “tougher issues”.

Following the meeting, Russia’s Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin, was quoted by the Tass news agency, Russian forces will “reduce activity around Kyiv and Chernihiv”. The aim is to “increase mutual trust and create the right conditions for future negotiations and achieve the ultimate goal of signing a peace agreement with Ukraine.”

Following this came news that Russia is beginning to withdraw some forces from around the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, in what the US assesses is a “major” strategy shift. US is already observing movements underway of Russian Battalion Tactical Groups (BTGs) 1/. Whether this is a tactical repositioning eastwards due to the realisation that they cannot “take” Kyiv, or a genuine withdrawal, remains to be seen. Let us hope that this comes to fruition, thus advoiding countess more deaths and the displacement of the population. Despite this a Ukrainian news outlet is reporting “multiple explosions” in Kyiv this morning, a day after Russia pledged to reduce combat operations around the capital

Also of concern to the UNHCR is that people who have fled conflict, especially women and children, are particularly at risk of human trafficking and exploitation.  The longer a conflict lasts, the more vulnerable they can become as they struggle to start a new life. We need to take urgent and determined action to protect people and prevent them from falling victim to traffickers. People escaping conflict are in a very dangerous and precarious situation. They can be more easily deceived by phoney travel arrangements and fake job offers that lead them into exploitative situations. Traffickers are known to use such methods, as well as violence, to trick and coerce their victims.

Portugal is a very welcoming country, and has quickly established official processes to help refugees integrate into the community and are properly protected. The official government channels are here: https://portugalforukraine.gov.pt/and for immigrations matters: https://sefforukraine.sef.pt/

Nevertheless we ask people to be on the lookout for anything that raises suspicion that Ukrainians arriving here are being exploited in any way. This can be anything ranging from underpaid job offers, bogus legalisation or scams involving accommodation. If you become aware of anything then contact the appropriate authorities as soon as possible.

Please have a safe day.

Covid-19

Covid-19. Brussels warns of new crises with 100 million in the EU and refugees without vaccine

The European Commission warned this Tuesday of “possible crises” in winter with new waves of covid-19, at a time when 100 million people in the European Union (EU) are not vaccinated or are partially vaccinated and when Ukrainian refugees arrive.

“More than 72% of the total population of the European Union received the complete primary vaccination and more than half received a booster dose”, but “more than 100 million Europeans are still not vaccinated or are only partially vaccinated”, said today the commissioner European Health, Stella Kyriakides.

Speaking at the EU Council of Health Ministers on the humanitarian and health situation in Ukraine and also dedicated to covid-19, the European responsible for the protection warned that “the pandemic is still in Europe and infections are on the rise again”, so Member States have to “be prepared for possible crises”.

“We have to take into account the experts’ calls for caution. Covid-19 is not over yet and Ukraine and the influx of millions of people [coming to the EU] bring an additional layer of urgency to our work to ensure their protection with vaccination.”

Urging European ministers to prepare for the next autumn and winter, namely by increasing anti-covid-19 vaccination rates, Stella Kyriakides warned that “there is no place for complacency”

 

News

Targeted by Traffickers – Ukrainian Refugees at High Risk of Exploitation

One month into the war in Ukraine, millions of people, mainly women and children, continue to flee their homes. As long as the conflict continues, the risk of them being targeted by criminal networks grows.

The United Nations Office on Drugs on Crime (UNODC), the leading entity within the UN system to address the criminal elements of human trafficking, is supporting countries that are affected by the refugee crisis to identify potential victims and develop short and long-term strategies to prevent this crime.

Latest figures from the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) indicate that around ninety percent of the over 3.6 million refugees from Ukraine are women and children.

“Evidence from conflicts shows that criminals profit from the chaos and desperation of war. Crisis increases vulnerabilities as well as opportunities to exploit people in need, especially internally displaced people and refugees,” says UNODC Executive Director Ghada Waly.

UNODC is working closely with other UN and international entities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and law enforcement authorities to coordinate responses to the current risks.

“People who have fled conflict, especially women and children, are particularly at risk of human trafficking and exploitation,” says Ms. Waly.

“The longer a conflict lasts, the more vulnerable they can become as they struggle to start a new life. We need to take urgent and determined action to protect people and prevent them from falling victim to traffickers.”

UNODC research has demonstrated how people fleeing conflict are vulnerable to becoming victims of trafficking.

Portugal received 65 unaccompanied minors from Ukraine

Until Friday, 1,800 expressions of interest from Portuguese families were registered to welcome Ukrainian children through the platform created by the Government. Since the beginning of the war, 23,813 requests for temporary protection have been made from Ukraine, of which 8,511 are for children.

Platform for Refugees warns of convoys that bring unaccompanied minors without certified information about family members with whom to leave them.

Covid-19: vaccination certificate for minors no longer expires

Under the new rules, only Covid digital certificates from the European Union (EU) of those over 18 are now subject to a validity period of 270 days (nine months) after the administration of the last dose of primary vaccination.

Minors who have received at least the primary vaccination against covid-19 are exempt from the nine-month validity period of the European digital certificate, according to the new rules adopted today by the European Commission.

Under the new rules, only European Union (EU) covid digital certificates of those over 18 are now subject to a validity period of 270 days (nine months) after the administration of the last dose of primary vaccination.

For Johnson & Johnson vaccine, this means 270 days after the first and only injection. For a two-dose vaccine, it means 270 days after the second injection.

This relaxation of the rules is due to the fact that not all EU Member States recommend reinforcing vaccination for minors.

The exemption must be applied by each Member State – by adapting the applications that verify the validity of the certificates – until 6 April.

The EU Covid Digital Certificate is digital proof that a person is vaccinated against the disease, received a negative test result or recovered from Covid-19.

Extreme heat will cause more deaths in the future and extreme cold less.

The research, released this Tuesday, assesses the impact of climate change on the mortality of the population in the metropolitan areas of Lisbon and Porto, having used “advanced models to quantify the effects of temperature on mortality”, in the short term (years 2051 to 2065). ) and long term (2085-2099), when compared to the historical period from 1991 to 2005.

It also includes studies “that incorporate prospective demographic scenarios into temperature-related mortality projections under current and future conditions (2046-2065), taking into account cold and heat-related mortality”, revealed the UC, in a press release.

Speaking to the Lusa agency, Mónica Rodrigues, a researcher at the Center for Studies on Geography and Spatial Planning (CEGOT) at the University of Coimbra, explained that the research results show that, in future periods, “an increase in temperature is expected, both in summer and winter, with a higher frequency of heat waves, influencing mortality”.

“We found that extreme heat is the one with the most significant values. There is an excess of mortality associated with extreme temperatures, in the case of the summer months”, said the expert, stressing that, like low temperatures, “people over 65 are also the age group most vulnerable to heat”.

In the winter period and Portugal being one of the European countries “which has the highest mortality rate”, even with mild temperatures, mortality in the future “will be more accentuated with temperate temperatures and will not be so accentuated with extreme temperatures”.

Ukrainian doctors who do not speak Portuguese will be able to practice with a tutor

The Ordem dos Médicos (OM) is available to postpone the communication test in Portuguese for Ukrainian doctors who are arriving in Portugal, facilitating their integration into work teams under the guidance of a tutor. They are not exempt from the prior recognition of medical courses, which is carried out by Portuguese universities.

Miguel Guimarães, chairman of the OM, added that the proposal, already presented to the Ministry of Health, comes under the refugee equivalent status, which is being given to Ukrainians, and aims to “facilitate registration in the Order” so that they can integrate in the business market. The “figure of the doctor without autonomy” will be used.

In order not to jeopardize the integration of these doctors, having the medical course already recognized, what we can do is accept that they work as a team in the National Health Service, having a tutor doctor”, who must speak Portuguese and Ukrainian or English, if there is a good command of this other foreign language, specified Miguel Guimarães.

“That way, they integrate, learning our way of working and earning an income”. After “three or six months, depending on the circumstances, they take the Portuguese test and, then, if they pass, they are like any normal doctor with autonomy”, he added, stressing that this system takes into account the “protection of the quality of medicine and the safety of [sick] people”.

So far, the OM has received “two contacts from two Ukrainian doctors, who are here with their children and asked what they had to do to register”, said the chairman.

Health

Hospital administrators call for solutions for emergencies

The president of the Portuguese Association of Hospital Administrators (APAH) defended today that “structured solutions” are needed to solve the “chronic problem” of demand for emergency services, which is very high in some public hospitals.

“We have seen a very high growth in demand for emergency services in some NHS hospitals. It is also not surprising in the face of a chronic problem for which it is important to have structured solutions, which take a long time to be implemented”, Alexandre Lourenço told the Lusa agency.

The situation of patients who are discharged from the clinic, but who remain hospitalized for lack of social response, also contributes to this situation, another “chronic problem”.

“Often, emergency rooms are overcrowded for the simple reason that we are unable to transfer patients from the emergency room to the inpatient unit that is exhausted, because hospitals do not have the capacity to transfer patients who are in inpatient care to the community or to other institutions”, he explained.

APAH has requested “structured responses of integration” from the health sector and the social sector to find joint responses for these patients, which was what happened at the peak of the pandemic in which the social sector supported hospitals in this regard.

“It is necessary to have a structural response that does not depend only on moments of the covid-19 pandemic”, he said, warning that the health status of these patients worsens and they lose autonomy, and, on the other hand, families have less and less capacity to care for them at home.

 

Portugal Situation Report Wednesday 23^rd March 2022

All eyes at present are turned to the situation concerning Sao Jorge Island in the Azores where since 19^th March there have been over 1800 low magnitude earthquakes of which around 100 have been felt.

At 7.24 pm (Azores time) yesterday the Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service of the Azores (SRPCBA), issued a bulletin preventively advising avoiding non-essential travel to the island of São Jorge, such as sporting or cultural activities, so as not to create additional constraints of possible assistance to the population. This bulletin “does not exclude possible events of greater magnitude” in other words a risk of an earthquake of greater magnitude than those already occurring.

The stated earlier yesterday that it is “preparing preventive measures that can be adopted in a possible scenario of a greater magnitude earthquake or a possible eruption, resulting from the seismic-volcanic crisis that is being recorded, since on the 19th of March, on the island of São Jorge”. The SRPCBA appeals to the population to remain calm, be attentive and follow the information and recommendations disseminated by the authorities, not contributing to the dissemination of rumours.

Interestingly it almost a year since the VOLCAZO 21.01 “national exercise which took place on 21st 2021. The scenario involved a simulation of an eruption of volcanic ash from the Furnas Volcano, located on the island of São Miguel, with a plume with 17 km of altitude that will affect the Oceanic FIR of Santa Maria, the Lisbon FIR and the Madrid FIR.

Still on the subject of civil protection the weather warnings issued over the last few days have proved correct with some very heavy showers on Sunday afternoon resulting in around 150 occorances being registered by the ANEPC. There was no serious flooding and no reports of injuries. Rain of course is much need at present but hopefully not in intensity that causes damage. Unfortunately the recent rains have had minimal impact on the drought situation especially in the Algarve. Please monitor the warnings issued today.

Turning to the war in Ukraine – In our last weekly report (last Wednesday) I stated there appears an increase is starting in the use of longer range artillery and missiles, which Russia can launch from within the safety of Russia held territory itself with greater collateral damage, at the same time protecting its troops. The more the resistance by Ukraine, the more likelihood of this type of bombardment continuing or indeed increasing”.

Certainly this appears to be materialising, with the use of cruise missiles and long range artillery, plus shots fired on Monday from Russian warships in the Black sea, the latter potentially as a prelude to a full scale attack on Odesa. This change of strategy appears to confirm that Russia is not making the headway it had planned using ground troops, and instead is using long range missile strikes to cause greater terror and also civilian casualties.

All indications are that ground troops are facing stiff resistance with Ukraine regain ground from Russian troops. There are reportedly communication problems in the Russian attack, lack of coordination and logistical support to the troops which are assessed as sufficient for only 3 days.

It is reported by Tukey who are that the negotiations between Ukraine and Russia are making some headway but there are also reports particularly from the Russian side that there is more to be done by Ukraine to meet their demands.

The continuance of the war has resulted according to the UNHCR to the largest humanitarian crisis of its kind in Europe since World War II. Unless there is some sort of compromise through the negotiations soon, then there is an increased threat of more intense intervention a greater humanitarian crisis and more loss of life.

Turning to rural fire prevention. Yesterday the Order was published on land cleaning inspections for those who have properties in rural areas.  There is a list of 1001 parishes, one less than last year and properties in these areas are liable for inspection between 1^st and 30^th May. It is important to finish the cleaning of your land well before this date to avoid a hefty fine. Should you have neighbours who are not cleaning their land and it poses a risk to your property, and you cannot contact them then you should consider reporting this to the GNR which can be dome online or through 808 200 520. The list is here: https://dre.pt/dre/detalhe/despacho/3369-2022-180830534

With that have a Safe Day

Covid-19

Portugal with fifth lowest number of deaths attributed to covid-19 in the EU

Portugal has a daily average of 1.73 deaths per million inhabitants in the last seven days, below the European Union average.

Portugal has the fifth lowest number of daily deaths attributed to covid-19 in the European Union, according to data from the statistical website Our World in Data.

According to the numbers updated this Monday, Portugal has a daily average of 1.73 deaths per million inhabitants attributed to the disease in the last seven days, below the European Union average in this indicator, which is 2.41, but above the world, of 0.66.

Of the EU countries, Latvia has the highest average (5.74), followed by Denmark (5.58), Finland (5.41), Greece (5.17) and Slovakia (5.03).

Worldwide and considering only countries with more than one million inhabitants, Hong Kong has the highest average (35.9 daily deaths attributed to covid-19), followed by Norway (10.87), South Korea (6 .02), Latvia and Denmark.

In terms of new daily cases per million inhabitants, Portugal dropped from an average of 1,200 in the previous seven days to 1,100 and went from the 13th to the 16th highest in the European Union.

In this indicator, Austria has the highest average, at 4,930, followed by Cyprus (3,880), the Netherlands (2,860), Germany (2,620) and Latvia (2,200).

Ukraine: Ukrainian community becomes second largest resident in Portugal

The refugees who are arriving in Portugal as a result of the war situation in Ukraine have made the Ukrainian community the second largest resident in the country, after the Brazilian.

Data from the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) sent to the Lusa agency indicate that since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, on February 24, around 18,400 citizens from that country have asked Portugal for temporary protection.

According to the SEF, before the invasion of Russia, 27,200 Ukrainians lived in Portugal, which currently totals more than 45,500 citizens, making this community the second largest resident in the country.

The Ukrainian community residing in Portugal moves to the place that until now was occupied by citizens from the United Kingdom, who are about 42,300.

According to the SEF, the most representative nationalities are from Brazil (209,072), followed by Ukraine, the United Kingdom, Cape Verde (35,913), India (30,995) and Italy (30,887).

Ukrainian citizens who fled the war can apply for temporary protection from Portugal for one year, which is extendable for two six-month periods.

War in Ukraine – Impact on food prices in Portugal

The director-general of APED, Gonçalo Lobo Xavier, assured today that there will be no disruption of products in supermarkets, signalling, however, that given the current situation, the increase in costs will have consequences on family income.

Speaking at the annual conference of the Association of Specialized Credit Institutions (ASFAC), Gonçalo Lobo Xavier began by underlining that “you don’t have to run to the supermarkets” to shop because “there won’t be a break in products “.

The director-general of the Portuguese Association of Distribution Companies (APED) referred, on the other hand, that the increase in costs (potentiated by the increase in the price of raw materials, the energy bill or by the disruption of distribution chains) will have an implication in the price paid by consumers and consequently on household income.

“In the price of foodstuffs, the average increase (…) will be around 30% and with that there is no efficiency, logistics, crushing of margins to support”, said the director general of APED, adding that “this will have consequences on the income of families and that will be a huge challenge that we will have, whether in digital or in [physical] stores”.

João Vieira Lopes, president of the Confederation of Commerce and Services of Portugal (CCP) also highlighted the situation of a “perfect storm” that is being experienced, pointing out the rise in inflation – more structural than initially thought -, the upward trend of interest rates and the problems with supply chains that came with the pandemic and which the war in Ukraine has accentuated, along with the escalation of energy and raw materials prices.

There is a shortage of diesel and there may be rationing in Europe, warn oil giants

President of Vitol, one of the largest crude oil traders in the world, identifies a systemic risk in the fact that half of Europe’s diesel imports come from Russia

Swiss company Vitol, one of the world’s biggest crude traders, warned that there could be rationing of diesel in Europe, describing the continent’s dependence on Russian and Middle Eastern fuel as a systemic risk.

Vitol’s chief executive admits that refineries may increase production to avoid rationing, although this remains a possibility.

According to the “Financial Times” this Tuesday, March 22, Russell Hardy said at a conference organized by the newspaper that Europe could lose 3 million barrels a day if it sanctions Russia, to which crude oil products are added. “What everyone is going to focus on will be diesel reserves. Europe imports half of its diesel from Russia and about half from the Middle East (…) the systemic discrepancy in diesel exists”, he underlined.

Torbjorn Tornqvist, co-founder and president of Gunvor, another major crude trader, said that the shortage of diesel “is a global problem” and that the gas market is “broken”. It never ” crossed his mind ” that gas below $ 100 per megawatt was considered ” very cheap , ” he said , according to the ” Financial Times ” , at a time of soaring prices .