First flight with Brazilians and family members from Lebanon lands in SP with 229 individuals, three pets

“At last the sounds of bombing are going to stop.” The statement issued by Karla Araújo Cardoso is accompanied by a gaze that reflects the feeling of leavin

At last the bomb sounds have stopped and I'm very happy. After seven years, I'm coming back to Brazil” - Karla Araújo Cardoso

Followed closely by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva at the Air Base in the state of São Paulo, the arrival concluded the first stage of Operação Raízes do Cedro (Operation Cedar Roots). “I am going home,” summarized Mariam Sadek. “I am extremely grateful to the Brazilian government, always taking care of its citizens,” stated Raghida Hammout emotively.

The flight prioritized women, elderly people and children, ten of whom were infants.  The operation engaged teams from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ministério das Relações Exteriores / MRE) in Brasília and the Brazilian Embassy in Beirut, as well as the Brazilian Air Force (Força Aérea Brasileira / FAB) operational task force.

On Saturday afternoon, Minister Mauro Vieira (Foreign Affairs) telephoned the Brazilian Ambassador to Lebanon, Tarcísio Costa, to thank him for the efforts of the Lebanese team, who stayed in constant communication with the Brazilian community –composed of around 20,000 individuals– and for planning and organizing the repatriation. Around three thousand people asked to return to Brazil. Diplomats and staff from the consular area are supporting the preparation of lists and verifying documentation.

Ambassador Costa personally accompanied the Brazilian citizens boarding the plane in Beirut. “I would like to wish each and every one of you a joyous trip back to our country. May you have a safe journey,” he told the 229 people on board through the KC-30 communication.

Sônia Luiza da Silva, one of those brought to Brazil, commented on the effort. “I would like to thank everyone who participated, directly or indirectly, in making this flight possible. Because it was not easy, it took many collaborators,” she stated. “Firstly, I want to thank God and then our President. He took us away from the war. We were under a war,” added Maria Hussein Hindi.

RECEPTION – The KC-30 crew included a multidisciplinary team with three doctors, two nurses, and two psychologists to ensure support and assistance. When the Brazilian Air Force aircraft touched the ground at the Guarulhos Air Base, a Federal Government reception team was already available. A total of 35 professionals from the ministries of Justice and Public Security (MJSP), Human Rights (MDHC), Foreign Affairs (MRE), and Social Development, Assistance, Family, and Hunger Eradication (MDS) was deployed to meet those who arrived.

SUPPORT – Public Servants from the Federal Police and Federal Revenue were appointed to facilitate the immigration process. Furthermore, 15 members of the Brazilian Health System (SUS) National Force were appointed to provide emergency care and update vaccination records. A joint task force was put together between the MRE and the Ministry of Justice to provide accommodation and guidance regarding movement within the country. The Ministry of Social Development appointed a team of social workers to support the families with no established ties in Brazil. The ministry is also working with a sheltering policy, if required, and assessing cases of vulnerability to speed up the registration process for the Unified Registry (Cadastro Único) and programs such as Bolsa Família.

Equipe da Força Nacional do SUS, van para conferência de bagagens e equipes da Receita, Vigiagro e Anvisa. Fotos: Jéssica Gomes / Secom / PR

MIGRATIONS – In addition to the ministerial fronts, those who were brought from Lebanon will be accompanied by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the UN agency for Migrations. The IOM, together with the Ministry of Social Development (MDS), will conduct interviews to assess the need for protection and documentation. .

RETURNING IN PEACE – The current retrieval and reception actions are similar to those conducted by the Federal Government in October 2023, during the Operação Voltando em Paz (Operation Returning in Peace), which retrieved over 1,500 Brazilian citizens and more than 50 pets from the conflict zones in the Gaza Strip, West Bank, and Israel.

PETS – The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock maintained flexible rules for the entry of dogs and cats to Brazil, with guidelines that facilitated the process. The International Agriculture Surveillance units, together with the Coordination of Traffic and National Integration of Cargo and Passengers, initiated a special protocol for pets coming from the Middle East. The procedure allows the tutors to enter the country with their pets without immediately providing the documents required in regular conditions.

MULTIPLE FUNCTIONS – The KC-30 used in this first retrieval flight has around 240 seats. With a flight autonomy of up to 14,500 Kilometers, it has been used several time for humanitarian flights to rescue Brazilian citizens from conflict areas in Israel and Gaza since the beginning of the crisis in the Middle East.  This is the largest aircraft operated by the Brazilian Air Force, with 59 meters in length. Its capacity allows it to be used for strategic operations, logistical support, and humanitarian missions. In calamity scenarios, such as natural disasters or medical emergencies, it can also be used for Aeromedical Evacuation missions with multiple patients.

THE OPERATION – Operação Raízes do Cedro was carried out under orders from President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in the face of the escalation of conflicts between Israel and the Hezbollah group, which operates in Lebanon. The logistics of the retrieval process involved the use of aircraft and staff from the Brazilian Air Force and an intense collaboration effort coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Minister Mauro Vieira is maintaining frequent dialogue with the chancellors of Lebanon and the neighboring countries to safely organize the rescues.