Archives: Situation Reports

Portugal Situation Report Wednesday 7^th September 2022

Good morning – what a difference the weather makes! Due the rain showers and high humidity over the last few days there has been a vast decrease in the number of rural fires, to a point whereby yesterday at 0745 hrs there only 80 operatives deployed for the entire region tackling 3 fires under conclusion. This had gown to just over one hundred operatives by around mid-day, but with no active fires or fires under resolution.

Although fires are mainly of human cause, the weather conditions play a major part on how intense they may become and spread.

Instead of fires attention is beginning to turn to tropical storms particularly those originating in the north Atlantic. You may recall that around 5 weeks ago when we took the decision to form a Safe Communities Northern Portugal Group, one reason was of concerns over a possible active cyclone season and the effects these have had in the past, in the centre and north of the mainland.

Hurricane Danielle is a very good example of how such storms behave, in many ways similar to the typhoons we encountered when I lived and worked in Hong Kong. Although technology has improved on the tracking and forecasting of these, their behaviour remains the same. The storms increase and decrease in intensity, and can change direction dramatically. A few days ago a simulation showed that it could affect Portugal mainland and then literally a few hours later it was reported that it was heading in a more north easterly direction, only to find yesterday morning there was a possibility that it could change direction yet again to a south easterly course towards the mainland. Anyway we monitor these closely and if it becomes a potential threat, then we will issue preparedness advice.

Notwithstanding these storms, the north of the country has experienced a few showers, but generally less than what was forecast. Without rain in some places for several months roads can be slippery so please take that into account, when driving in wet weather.  It is a good time of the year to check and ensure that your windscreen wiper blades are in good condition, as the rubber can harden over several months exposed to the sun. Ensure that your windscreen washers are topped up and that tyres are properly inflated and in good condition.

In case you missed our Facebook post yesterday, a reminder concerning action to take in case of poisoning. We live surrounded by possible toxins that we constantly use in our homes, garages, factories and in the countryside. When poisoning happens we need to know how to act and obtain help quickly.

The INEM Anti Poison Information Centre has decades of experience on this subject. This unit also gives expert advice on action to take in the case of animal poisoning as we. Consult INEM for advice and always have the number of INEM Anti-poison Information Centre (CIAV) at hand: 800 250 250.

Another important service is the SNS 24 Psychological Counselling Line which answered more than 173,000 calls in two and a half years, of which more than 10,800 were from health professionals, the Shared Services of the Ministry of Health (SPMS) reported this Sunday.

Created in the midst of a pandemic, on April 1, 2020, through a partnership between SPMS, EPE, the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and the Order of Portuguese Psychologists, it has been a voice of support for those who seek it in difficult times. According to SPMS, this year alone, [the Line] has already exceeded 46,000 calls. The SNS 24 Psychological Counselling Line now has a service available in English, and since last April 20, it has already answered about 2,500 calls.

Lastly another services this time from Safe Communities Portugal. This is the Emergency Contacts Poster for your home in case you need to summon emergency assistance.  Dealing with a real emergency, such as an approach of a rural fire, serious health incident involving a loved one can be very stressful. Having information and essential contact details immediately available will help you in summoning help, and avoid wasting time in try to find such information at this critical time.

It is on our website. Just print from the link below, fill in in and place in a conspicuous place in your home, inside entrance doors for instance.

https://www.safecommunitiesportugal.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Emergency-Information-and-Contacts-BW-.pdf

With that our team, Mike, Chris, Daniel, Susan and myself who prepare these weekly bulletins wish you a Safe week

News

Two men accused of war crimes for the first time in Portugal

Two men are charged in court with war crimes against people. This case is the first in Portugal. The Public Ministry indicted the two men of Iraqi nationality, detained in 2021 on suspicion of terrorist links to Daesh.

The brothers Yasser, 32 years old, and Ammar, 34 years old, have lived in Portugal since 2017. The youngest came to work in a restaurant in Lisbon that, in 2018, was visited by the Prime Minister and the President of the Republic.

The Iraqis were detained after three years of investigations on suspicion of being linked to a possible terrorist attack in a European country.

Until the arrest, the authorities found no evidence that the suspects were planning a crime in Portugal. However, they will be linked to various actions carried out by Daesh in Iraq, in the city of Mosul, where they were in 2016.

The two suspects are accused of committing crimes of membership of a terrorist organization, war crimes against people and crimes of resistance and coercion against an employee. 

Portuguese Parliament debates and votes on the 16th to ratify the accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO

The Assembly of the Republic will debate and vote on the 16th of September on the Government’s proposed resolutions aimed at ratifying the accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO, already approved by the Allies.

The date was announced by the spokeswoman for the conference of leaders, the socialist Maria da Luz Rosinha, who was speaking to journalists at the Assembly of the Republic, in Lisbon.

The Government’s proposed resolutions on the subject – approved by the Council of Ministers on 14 July – were submitted to the Assembly of the Republic on 19 July, according to the parliament’s website, having been sent to the parliamentary committees on Foreign Affairs and Communities. Portuguese and National Defence.

Since the last plenary session before the parliamentary vacation was on 21 July, the proposed resolutions in question were sent to September.

In both texts – one dedicated to Sweden, the other to Finland -, the Government reproduces the same arguments as to the reasons that justify the accession of the two countries to the Atlantic Alliance.

According to the executive, led by the PS, both Finland and Sweden meet “currently the necessary conditions for joining NATO, as a result of the cooperation carried out in several domains, framed by the parameters defined by the Alliance”.

The executive emphasizes that the accession of two Member States of the European Union (EU) to NATO “will contribute to the strengthening of the complementary relationship, in the field of security and defence, between the two organizations, in scrupulous respect for the principles enshrined in the respective treaties”.

Portuguese are the ones who most support the EU’s reaction to the Russian invasion

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Portuguese are the ones who most support the EU’s reaction to the Russian invasion

Portugal is the member state that most supports the European Union’s reaction to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with 78 percent of respondents saying they are satisfied, against 57 percent of the EU average, reveals a European Commission survey.

According to the «Eurobarometer» of the summer of 2022, released today by the EU executive, a majority of EU citizens are satisfied with the bloc’s response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine (57%, of which 11% are “very satisfied” ), but support varies from 78% in Portugal and Poland, to 36% in Estonia and 38% in Greece.

Portugal is the country where support for the EU’s response is greatest, as 78% of respondents say they are satisfied and only 15% express dissatisfaction (and 07% do not know or do not respond). In Poland, 78% also support the European bloc’s reaction, but 20% say they are dissatisfied (and only 02% do not respond).

When specifically asked about the EU’s responses in several areas, the greatest support is related to humanitarian action, which deserves the approval of 92% of European citizens – 98% in Portugal, once again the highest value among the 27 States, followed by the reception of people fleeing the war (90% in the community average, 97% in Portugal).

Regarding the economic sanctions adopted by the EU against Russia, they deserve the support of 78% of Europeans, with Portugal once again being the Member State where the measure receives the most support (94%), while the measure that gathers the least consensus is that of purchase and delivery of military equipment to Ukraine, ‘applauded’ by 68% of European citizens, but 86% of Portuguese.

When asked about the response of their respective national governments to Russian military aggression against Ukraine, 55% of citizens surveyed in the 27 Member States said they were satisfied, against 40% of dissatisfied.

In this case, Portugal is the fourth EU country where there is greater support for the national reaction (78% say they are satisfied), behind Finland (88%), Ireland and Denmark (both with 81%), while the countries where least supported are Greece and Bulgaria, with only 34% favourable opinions in both cases.

Despite strong support for the EU’s response to the war in Ukraine, 96% of Portuguese consider that the conflict had serious economic consequences for the country, the third highest figure in the EU (which averages 88%), and 85% say that have personally felt serious consequences at the economic level, also the third highest figure, and well above the Community average of 62%.

The survey, whose first results were published today, was conducted between 17 June and 17 July, with more than 26 thousand citizens, with 1,009 people surveyed in Portugal by Marktest.

Portugal Situation Report Wednesday 31^st August 2022

Good morning – The highlight of the week, (certainly dominating the media yesterday) was the Minister of Health, Marta Temido, presenting her resignation to the Prime Minister because she “understands that she is no longer able to remain in office”, according to a note sent by the ministry to newsrooms.

Her resignation, is the first ‘weight loss’ in the XXIII Constitutional Government, which took office exactly five months ago, on March 30th.

In response, “The Prime Minister gave thanks for all the work developed by Dr. Marta Temido, especially in the exceptional period of combating the COVID19 pandemic. The Prime Minister, António Costa, admitted today that the death of a pregnant woman transferred from Hospital de Santa Maria was the “final straw” that led to the resignation of the Minister of Health. The Government will continue the ongoing reforms with a view to strengthening the SNS and improving the health care provided to the Portuguese.”

Marta Temido began her duties as Minister of Health in October 2018 and was minister during the last three executives led by socialist António Costa. During her mandates, Marta Temido was at the centre of the management of the pandemic, which began in 2020, but also went through several controversies. Recently, the closure of emergency obstetrics services in several hospitals due to a lack of doctors to fill the scales put pressure on the ministry.

The minister who became the most popular in the Government could it would appear no longer stand up to the pressure. Her departure comes at a time when many of the issues and problems, for instances staff shortages, retention of professionals, left over from pandemic are now emerging, as there are in many health systems overseas. The succession of clinical cases with political collage will continue to make headlines over the coming months, exploited by other political parties and other groups.

The prime minister made it known that Marta Temido’s succession will not be immediate. In part, the meaning of this statement is unclear: does the minister remain in day-to-day management? In part, it means that a substantive decision on a new team at the Ministry of Health is expected.

The prime minister said that he hopes that the outgoing Health Minister, will still choose the executive direction of the SNS and take it to the Council of Ministers, which should meet on September 15. António Costa admitted that he “was not counting” on the resignation and revealed that the death of a pregnant woman on Saturday surpassed the “red line” that she had settled for herself. And he added: “this time”, he had to accept the minister’s request.

The prime minister says he has not yet had time to think of a replacement for Marta Temido and insists that the minister still present to the Council of Ministers on the 8th or 15th September the regulation of the Statute of the National Health Service (SNS). “It is better to conclude this work that is in progress and then move on with our lives”,

At Safe Communities for over two years we closely monitored every day the development of the pandemic, including the decisions and announcements made by the Minister. Although there were changes and even mistakes that were made, the fact is that she dealt decisively with this unprecedented pandemic, which affected everyone in some shape of form. It would be an extraordinary miracle if, in the midst of the circumstances, everything had always gone according to plan. It was a major crisis and although easy to criticise, her legacy should be that she was a minister who faced up to the challenge and saw it through. The pressure she was under would have been considerable.

Portugal had one of the best performances in the world in the fight against the pandemic recognized by international institutions, a view that was frequently made to us by foreign residents here as well as visitors. If there is any doubt on that point please visit our Covid-19 Positive messages page where you can see some of these. We should be thanking her for her work.

On a different note whereas we have been focusing on fires for some time, it was “a few drops of rain in the Algarve” on Sunday that caught the attention of our Facebook followers. The amount of rain did not materialize as the maps indicated but it did not stop around 120 of you sharing your “rain drop” experiences – the post reaching around 12,000 people. Seriously however, this reflects the desperate need there is for a protracted period of rain to in anyway help address the extreme drought problem in the region.

Even in the north there was generally little rain, and only a few isolated intense rain and hail showers. This is not the type of rain we need, because when it falls on earth which has been parched by the sun for several months, it does not soak in but runs off causing flooding.

News

Marcelo: “I prefer a more autonomous and independent SNS from the Ministry of Health”

President of the Republic declined to comment on Marta Temido’s departure, but revealed his preference for the future of the National Health System.

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa was present, in a virtual way, at the PSD Summer University, and was questioned by some young people about Marta Temido’s departure. The president of Portugal did not elaborate much on the matter, but made a point of revealing his idea for the National Health System.

“I have a preference, which I haven’t hidden for a long time, about the way the SNS is managed. More autonomous and independent from the Ministry of Health, since a classic form of dependence has shown limits to its effectiveness”, he stressed reiterating once again he did not want to comment on the departure of the Minister of Health.

“As you can imagine, I will not comment on the specific case. As I said in a note that I published today, I am awaiting the exoneration proposal in formal terms and the corresponding proposal for the appointment of a substitute”, limited himself to affirming the head of state.

“I would answer in a different way, so as not to comment on the concrete question [about the future Minister of Health], which I understand is the question of the day, and it is, therefore, your question of the day, but I am not a political analyst and, therefore, I will not respond in this context”, he said.

Marcelo considered that there was “a consensus” that the response to the problems of the health sector “is not ideological”, but “largely organizational and functional”.

The President of the Republic said he expected further clarifications regarding the regulation, namely on the top management scheme, the executive direction of the SNS, and the scheme of combining decentralization and the transfer of regional health administrations to this decentralization scheme.

IGAS will investigate the case of the death of a pregnant woman transferred to São Francisco Xavier

The Inspectorate-General for Health Activities (IGAS) announced this Tuesday that it will institute an inspection of the transfer of the 31-week pregnant woman from the Hospital de Santa Maria to the Hospital de São Francisco Xavier, in Lisbon, “due to an alleged lack of vacancy” in the Neonatology Service of the first hospital unit”.

In a statement sent to the newsrooms, the organization explains that the investigation is intended to understand “the reason why the user was transferred”, “who were responsible for the transfer decision and under what clinical assumptions they ensured that the user could be transferred safely “, “what was the situation of the Neonatology Service of the Hospital de Santa Maria on the date of the patient’s transfer”, “in what circumstances the death occurred” and if “there were alternative and safer solutions to the transference of the patient”.

It should be remembered that the Hospital de Santa Maria clarified this Tuesday that the 34-year-old woman, of Indian nationality, resorted to its emergency department “due to a feeling of shortness of breath and tachycardia” and received all the necessary care.

At the time of the patient’s transfer – which the hospital justifies with the fact that it would be more beneficial for the baby, who suffered from a “growth restriction”, to be born in the place where he can be assisted – the pregnant woman “was stabilized”.

“It is scientifically proven that it is better for the baby to be born in the place where it will be assisted”, explained the doctor, which is why the Neonatology and Obstetrics team decided to transfer her.

“It is not a rare situation. Transfers take place in all hospitals”, he guaranteed, assuring that “it was not at all expected”, given the clinical situation in which the woman left the hospital, that there was a cardiorespiratory arrest.

During the trip, the woman suffered a cardiorespiratory arrest, and resuscitation was performed on the trip. At Hospital São Francisco Xavier “she underwent an urgent cesarean section”, and the newborn was taken to the neonatal intensive care unit “due to prematurity”. Her mother, who was admitted to intensive care, would eventually die. The baby remains hospitalized in the neonatology of Hospital São Francisco Xavier.

Man caught with 360 kilos of drugs to sell in the North region

The Judicial Police (PJ) detained a man suspected of being part of a “criminal structure” of drug trafficking, from whom 360.5 kilos of hashish and liamba were seized to be sold in the North of Portugal

The 31-year-old detainee, with a police record for the same crime, was in preventive detention – a more serious measure of coercion – after being brought to court, the PJ said in a statement.

According to the PJ, the suspect had in his possession 353 kilos of hashish and 7.5 kilos of liamba, a drug that was destined for the national market in the North region, he explained.

“The police action, resulting from intense work to collect information and surveillance of suspects, made it possible to remove substances from circulation that would be used for the preparation of 1,765,000 individual doses of hashish and 37,950 of liamba”, he underlined.

The PJ revealed that investigative efforts will continue to identify and hold others responsible for the “criminal structure” accountable.

Portugal Situation Report Wednesday 24th August 2022 

Good morning – Again the last week has been dominated by rural fires, over 80 % being in the north of the country.

We have mentioned many times previously the main metrological factors that facilitate the starting of fires and their spread, but fires would not exist if it was not for human causes.

The factors previously mentioned are: high temperatures, low relative humidity and the dryness of the vegetation. The last is important as if you drop a lighted cigarette on vegetation (say leaves) that are damp or if the RH is very high, it may not burn the leaves, or if it did it would smoulder, but if you did the same on vegetation that is so brittle with long periods without rain, it will burn or flare up very quickly – which is what is happening right now.

Remember, the longer the period without rain the more likelihood is that vegetation becomes even dryer – hence increasing the risk.

The issue of the Situation of Alert was timely, even though the legislation was not published until Monday the day following its implementation. At Safe Communities we nevertheless published it in statement form on the Saturday, so everyone was aware beforehand.

Through liaison with the ANEPC we ascertained that in the Algarve the risk was extremely high and that on the Sunday there was a red alert in terms of readiness by the civil protection and its agents. This is the highest level that can be issued and only when there is “an extremely dangerous situation”. As such and given the forecast weather conditions, particularly the high winds forecast, we decided to monitor the fire situation at regular intervals overnight on Sunday/Monday. This was prudent as there was a moderate fire in near Salir, Loule at around 0330 hrs that mobilised over a hundred operatives, with complications due to strong winds over 35 km/h and lack of Ariel support as it was night-time. The fire was brought to a conclusion after six hours.

When we read of complications fighting fires the most frequently raised constraint in effective firefighting, is wind speed, gusts and rapidly changing direction. Monitoring these forecasts is therefore important in determining risk and likely fire behaviour.

We thank those of you have joined our Safe Communities northern situation alerts page – we now have over 610 members in just over two weeks. The area is suffering from extreme weather, a point that was made clear to us when Safe Communities visited the IPMA last week. The launch was timely given the large number of fires in the area covered since then and unfortunately more to come. In fact at 1600 hrs yesterday there were 17 rural fires I thank Susan Wright for her work in developing the page and the input we are receiving from professionals in the civil protection field. Creating awareness of fire and other risks is essential, and being prepared even more so. If you have not yet joined the group we welcome you here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/safecommunitiesnorthernportugal

Lastly a reminder that although the Rural Fire Situation of Alert ended at midnight last night, the risk of fires remains high so we must not let our guard down. The restrictions in place along with the fire risks are posted on this page every day so it is easy to follow, supplement by frequent fire prevention and self-protection information to assist you.

Our team wish you a Safe week ahead

News

Brussels estimates Iberian Peninsula with “drier than usual conditions” until November

Brussels, Aug 23, 2022 (Lusa) – The European Commission estimated today that the Iberian Peninsula will have, until November, “drier than usual conditions”, admitting that “the risks may persist” regarding the drought and warning about the lack of storage of water in Portugal.

“It is likely that in the coming months, until November 2022, warmer and drier conditions than usual will occur in the Western Euro-Mediterranean region. In some areas of the Iberian Peninsula, drier than usual conditions are expected for the next three months”, indicates the European Commission’s Joint Research Center in an updated report on the assessment of the drought situation in Europe.

In the document, published today based on data and analysis from the European Drought Observatory, Brussels anticipates that “for most of Europe, after a long string of unusually dry forecasts, they are expected to approach normal conditions between August and October 2022”, which will allow “to alleviate the critical conditions of many European regions and affected sectors”.

But this is not the reality of the Iberian Peninsula, as the Joint Research Center estimates “weather conditions are drier than normal in western Spain and eastern Portugal”, as well as in the entire western Euro-Mediterranean region, where “some risks may persist”.

Regarding Portugal, the document notes that, in the country, “hydroelectric energy stored in water reservoirs is less than half the average of the previous five years”.

“The state of water storage for irrigation is getting worse and all the reservoirs have shrunk. In most cases, water storage is expected to be sufficient to complete the crop irrigation cycle, but around 25% of reservoirs are in significant deficit and may not meet irrigation needs,” warns the community executive.

In addition, “the danger of forest fires is high to extreme in most parts” of Portugal, he adds.

In the report on the drought situation in the European Union (EU) in August, the Joint Research Center indicates that 47% of the community space is in alert conditions, which means that rainfall has been lower than normal and that the humidity of the soil is deficient.

Two suspected of killing teenager in Lisbon gang dispute arrested

The PJ detained two men, aged 29 and 19, suspected of killing a 16-year-old, in a dispute between youth gangs in Lisbon and Loures. They were on the run in France and Switzerland and have already been extradited. Four other suspects had been detained in June.

The death took place on the night of February 19, 2022, in a context of youth violence and conflicts between two gangs in the Lumiar and Fetais areas. Isaac Oliveira, 16, was shot several times while walking on a street in Fetais, Loures. Isaac, nicknamed “Manilson”, was transported to Hospital de Santa Maria in critical condition, but eventually died.

The shots were fired from the interior of a moving van, with several youths inside. It appears that this was a planned assassination and retaliation for previous conflicts, especially a stabbing that took place a week earlier.

Investigations carried out by the PJ made it possible to identify the six individuals suspected of the homicide. In June, four of them, aged between 17 and 26, were arrested. The other two had fled the country shortly after the crime.

The PJ managed to locate them in Switzerland and France and, within the framework of international cooperation and with the cooperation of the authorities of both countries, they were both arrested and extradited in recent weeks.

The defendants, aged 29 and 19, were both presented for the first judicial interrogation, having been subject to the coercive measure of preventive detention

Euro loses gas. Single currency drops to two-decade lows on Russian pressure

The three-day stop of the Nord Stream 1 pipeline imposed by Russia for “maintenance” is putting pressure on the euro against the dollar. Single currency hits lowest value in two decades

The three-day stop of the Nord Stream 1 pipeline imposed by Russia for “maintenance”, but which is being interpreted by Europe as blackmail from Moscow on the threshold of a winter when energy will be scarce, is putting pressure on the euro against to the dollar to such an extent that the single currency fell to two-decade lows on Tuesday, August 23.

According to Reuters, the single currency reached US$0.9909 on Tuesday morning, a value last reached in late 2002.

Europe is trying to reduce dependence on Russian gas, hitherto abundant and cheap, after Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine on 24 February. Without having considered alternatives in recent years, the economies of Central Europe, especially the European economic “engine”, Germany, are now at the mercy of the very high gas prices practiced in international markets, and with no prospects of slowing down.

In this race to secure reserves for the winter, with Europe and Asia competing to buy what little gas there is on the market, the biggest loser is the German industry. Deprived of cheap energy, it is having great difficulties in adapting to these new production conditions, which will have an impact on the country’s economic growth. The German central bank, the Bundesbank, has already confirmed that the pessimism is justified.

Faced with all-time record inflation rates in developed economies fueled by rising energy prices and the breakdown of supply chains – and some links, which have broken due to the covid-19 pandemic, are unlikely to be restored – central banks global markets are tightening their monetary policy for the first time in several years, raising interest rates.

Azores IPMA places seven islands under heavy rain yellow level warning

Angra do Heroísmo, Azores, Aug 23, 2022 (Lusa) – The Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) has placed seven islands in the Azores (western and central groups) under yellow warning, between today and Wednesday, due to the forecast of sometimes heavy precipitation.

In a press release, the IPMA adds that, on the islands of the western group (Flores and Corvo) “rainfall is sometimes expected”, which can “be accompanied by thunderstorms”, from 00:00 to 18:00 local time (19:00 in Lisbon) today.

On the islands of the central group (Terceira, Graciosa, São Jorge, Pico and Faial), the same notice takes place between 00:00 and 21:00 on Wednesday.

The yellow warning (the least serious of a scale of three) is issued by the IPMA whenever there is a risk situation for certain activities depending on the weather situation.