8 de March, 2022
Portugal is not indifferent to what is happening in Ukraine and civil society is contributing in every possible way. Demonstrations in defence of Ukraine and in protest against the Russian Government have been daily in the country. Many of them have taken place in front of the Russian Embassy in Lisbon and the Russian Consulate in Porto.
Collection points for essential goods are spread all over the country. In each city, hundreds of people gather every day to help the refugees, collecting and organising donations and finding ways to get them to those in need. A great current of solidarity has formed in Portugal. You too can help.
Portugal for Ukraine is a Government initiative to support citizens of Ukraine who wish, for reasons of armed conflict and humanitarian reasons, to reside on national territory. Through the Institute of Employment and Vocational Training (IEFP), companies can express their intention to recruit Ukrainian citizens. It is enough to fill in this form.
The platform wehelpukraine.orgcreated by a Portuguese teacher who teaches in London, has been the digital point for most of the help offered by Portuguese people. Through it, it is possible to welcome families and help transport them to Portugal.
In recent days, numerous digital platforms have been created to connect those who want to help with those who need to be helped. Here are some of them:
Prykhystok – platform for offering/searching for accommodation. It also provides help for those who have not been able to leave Ukrainian territory.
First Contact – gathers up-to-date information on how to leave Ukraine, occupied territories and border data. It also informs how to ask for help from neighbouring countries and help in transporting refugees… It also publishes the address of humanitarian groups supporting Ukrainians.
Ukraine Now – Through this website it is possible to offer help of any kind. Just tell us your skills or profession and a team will direct you to the sector where you can be most helpful.
Unicef is collecting cash donations to help transport water and supplies, medical care and psychosocial training for the professionals who are dealing directly with the victims of the conflicts. The organisation currently has over 140 members spread across various regions of Ukraine providing humanitarian aid, day and night, especially to children.
The International Committee of the Red Cross has been collecting donations through the website: https://www.icrc.org/en/donate/ukraine
The University of Coimbra -UC- has joined forces with the University of Iasi, a city in north-eastern Romania (about 160 km from the Ukrainian border). It is receiving financial donations through this joint account:
IBAN RO76BRDE240SV78361832400
Beneficiary: Fundația Alumni – Universitatea Alexandru Ioan Cuza din Iasi;
Fiscal Identification Code: 21591880;
Bank: BRD – Groupe Société Générale;
SWIFT: BRDEROBU; BIC: BRDE
UC has also partnered with the Moldovan Embassy located in Portugal. Moldova shares about 900 km of border with southwestern Ukraine, is helping the refugees. Donations in EUR can be made to:
IBAN MD14NBPBBP144121A01344QI
Beneficiary: Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Moldova – State Treasury;
Fiscal beneficiary code 1006601000037;
Bank: National Bank of Moldova
SWIFT: NBMDMD2X
The non-governmental and non-profit organization People in Need is based on the initiative of hundreds of volunteers, both in the Czech Republic and in dozens of other countries. To help, visit the website: https://www.peopleinneed.net/
The National Bank of Ukraine has decided to open a special account to raise funds in support of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. To register funds in EUR:
NBU SWIFT Code: NBUA KILL UX
FEDERAL BANK OF GERMANY, Frankfurt
SWIFT Code: MARKDEFF
Account: 5040040066
IBAN DE05504000005040066
Wilhelm-Epsteinn-Strabe 14, 60431 Frankfurt Am Main, Germany
Account credit UA8430000100000047330992708
Lawyers can also offer support to refugees. It is possible to help with legal advice for entry and stay in Portugal, as well as document certification, authorisation for minors, among others.
If you wish to volunteer to provide this “pro bono” service and be included on this list, you should contact the Portuguese Bar Association at cons.geral@cg.oa.pt .
Anyone can help by donating essential goods. The list of necessary items is long. Those who wish to make donations should consult the associations to understand the needs in each one. Medicines, hygiene products and food are the priority.
The collection is being made in hundreds of support points, such as schools, churches, community centres, associations and also companies. The Embassy of Ukraine in the Portuguese Republic has been publicising daily on its Facebook page how the community can help. The Consulate of Ukraine in Porto has also been doing this communication through its social networks. We have gathered other collection points:
Who: Viseu City Council together with the Polytechnic Institute of Viseu (IPV), the Viriatos.14 Association and the Association of Ukrainians of Viseu.
What: medicines and medical items (such as compresses), non-perishable food, children’s clothes, blankets and toiletries.
Where to deliver: IPV Solidarity Store from Monday to Friday.
Who: Project Braga SOS Ukraine several collection points have been created.
What: Health items, children’s goods (such as wipes and powdered milk), hygiene products and thermal clothing.
Where to drop off: On their Instagram page all the locations, times and days when collections will take place are available. The contact number is 91 289 58 60.
Who: Saint Pantaleon Orthodox Church
What: nappies, baby food, canned goods and medicine.
Where to deliver: Collection takes place daily from 5pm to 8pm and the contact details are 96 152 66 46.
Who: Parish Councils of Porto
What: warm clothes, shoes, non-perishable food, medicine and hygiene products.
Where: Parish Council headquarters.
Who: Associação das Colectividades do Concelho de Matosinhos
What: Clothes, medicines, bandages and blankets
Where to deliver: buildings of the parish councils involved, Senhora da Hora/São Mamede, Matosinhos/Leça da Palmeira and at the headquarters of the association itself.
Who: Associação Amizade – Imigrantes de Gondomar
What: medicines, first aid kits, canned food items and personal hygiene products for adults and babies.
Where to deliver: in the association itself (installed in the basement of the building of the Junta de Freguesia of Rio Tinto) or in the Junta de Freguesia of Ermesinde. In the first, the deliveries take place from Monday to Friday, from 9am to 12pm, and in the second, from 9am to 12pm and from 2pm to 5pm, also during the week.
Who: Oksana Maia, Ukrainian living in Póvoa de Varzim
What: such as gloves, compresses, antiseptics, bandages, crutches and syrups for children), batteries, torches, bottles and thermal clothing, nappies, energy bars, canned goods, sanitary towels, among others.
Where to deliver: Lions Club warehouse, in the Amorim Industrial Area. Medicine and medical supplies requested.
Who: Christ the King Seminary
What: bottles of water, mattresses (yoga mat), first aid kits and money. They are temporarily not receiving clothing or food for babies and children.
Where to deliver: Visconde das Devesas, 684, daily from 9h to 21h.
Who: Leiria Municipality
What: hygiene products (personal hygiene, disinfectants, nappies…), thermal clothing, medicines and first aid kits, torches, radios, power banks and batteries.
Where to deliver: in the Council’s Parish Councils and Unions, in the Leiria, Maceira, Ortigosa and Monte Redondo Fire Departments and also in the Leiria’s Municipal Stadium from last Monday between 5pm and 10pm.
Who: Ukrainian Orthodox Community of Leiria
What: Foodstuffs.
Where to deliver: in Batalha Parish Center during weekdays from 6.30pm to 8.30pm and on weekends from 9am to 12 noon and 4pm to 8pm.
Who: Municipality of Fundão, in the district of Castelo Branco
What: requested goods are: blankets, clothes, non-perishable food items, powdered milk, nappies and medicines.
Where to deliver: Centro das Migrações do Fundão (Fundão’s Migration Centre), between 8am and 8pm.
Who: Junta de Freguesia da Ajuda
What: Non-perishable food, personal hygiene products and clothes.
Where to deliver: Pavilhão Multiusos da Ajuda, next to Pingo doce.
Who: Almada City Council, in partnership with the Parish Councils,
Where to deliver: the collection points are updated on the council’s website and are located in Vale Figueira Parque, Charneca de Caparica, Sobreda de Caparica, Costa de Caparica Parish, Caparica/Trafaria Parish Union, Almada/Pragal/Cova da Piedade/Cacilhas Parish Union and Laranjeiro/Feijó Parish Union.
Who: Angels of Mercy Association
What: medicines, food, sleeping bags and first aid kits.
Where to deliver: contact 92 022 24 31 and 93 053 37 52
Who: Association of Ukrainians in the Algarve
What: medicines and medical products (such as disinfectants and healing creams), day-to-day medication (heart, gastric, kidney?), food with long expiry dates, hygiene products and household goods (such as torches, thermal underwear, socks, mats).
Where to deliver: collection points are updated daily on the association’s facebook page. More contacts available: 96 716 72 57 and 96 977 35 92.
Who: Azores Tennis Association in Ponta Delgada
What: Essential goods
Where: on site
Author:
Atlantic Bridge
