For three weeks, Portugal will host Ukrainian mothers, children and relatives of soldiers who have died or are missing in action, to give them "an experience of normality", in what was hailed by the government as a "remarkable" civil society initiative.

Lisbon

Russian forces have invaded Ukraine from land, air and sea with strikes causing widespread damage. Global leaders have condemned the move and imposed sanctions.

Ukraine Invasion

Fifteen Ukrainian mothers and eighteen children, all relatives of soldiers who died or went missing in combat, have arrived in Portugal to take part in a three-week rehabilitation initiative. The program, organized by HelpUA.pt under the European Program for Psychological and Cultural Support to Families at War, offers psychological, civic, and cultural activities away from the conflict.

The group is staying at the Phoenix Center in Uram, which previously hosted war-wounded individuals for rehabilitation. After the three-week stay, the families will return to Ukraine. The children were selected by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense from regions most affected by the conflict. Organizers highlight that nearly one million vulnerable mothers remain in Ukraine and express hope to support more families in the future.

Portugal hosts Ukrainian mothers, children in civil society initiative

They arrived on Portuguese soil with their bags and luggage to finally experience peace and tranquility. For three weeks, a group of 15 mothers and 18 Ukrainian children, relatives of soldiers who died or went missing in combat, will be on national soil to participate in rehabilitation programs, civic and cultural activities, in a setting other than war. The initiative comes from the Ukraine Support Organization, HelpUA.pt, as part of the European Program for Psychological and Cultural Support to Families at War. The group will be staying at the Phoenix Center in Uram, which in 2024 received a group of war wounded for rehabilitation. After three weeks, they will return to Ukraine, as is their wish. The children were chosen by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense because they were in regions heavily affected by the conflict. The organization says there are almost one million vulnerable mothers still in Ukraine and hope to be able to receive more families in Portugal in the future.

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Washington

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Tehran

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Las Vegas

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Victoria

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Nuuk

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Philadelphia

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Simon's Town

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Minneapolis

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Kyiv

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Brussels

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Cúcuta

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Portland

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Odesa

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Portugal hosts Ukrainian mothers, children in civil society initiative

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