Notícias
CEDAR ROOTS
Sixth repatriation flight from Lebanon arrives in Brazil carrying 212 passengers
The Brazilian Air Force's KC-30 aircraft has been used in repatriation flights. Image: Paulo Pinto/Agência Brasil
The sixth stage of the operation to repatriate Brazilian nationals and their families from Lebanon was completed on the morning of Saturday, October 19. The Federal Government’s KC-30 aircraft landed at the São Paulo Air Base, in Guarulhos, at 7:15 am (Brasilia time). On board the aircraft were 212 passengers, including 14 children and a cat.
With the arrival of the sixth flight, Operation Cedar Roots [Operação Raízes do Cedro] has rescued a total of 1,317 passengers and 15 pets (11 cats and four dogs) since October 2. Priority is given to women, children, elderly people and Brazilian nationals who do not reside in Lebanon. Taking into account the five previous flights, 242 children (2-12 years old), 40 infants (up to 2 years old), 138 elderly people, 12 pregnant women, 101 people with health issues and 12 people with disabilities landed in Brazil.
Upon arrival, the Brazilians and their families are welcomed by professionals working for the Ministry of Social Development and Hunger Eradication (Ministério do Desenvolvimento Social e Combate à Fome); the National Health Service Force/Ministry of Health (Força Nacional do SUS/Ministério da Saúde); the Federal Police (Polícia Federal); and the Federal Revenue Service (Receita Federal). Details are provided below. During technical stopovers in Lisbon, the operation is supported by the Brazilian Embassy, via the Consulate General and the Defense Attaché in the Portuguese capital.
NEW FLIGHTS - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through the Brazilian Embassy in Beirut, is in contact with Brazilian citizens and their close relatives to provide them with consular assistance and to verify the need of a new repatriation flight, depending on security conditions on the ground.
GUIDELINES - The Brazilian government reiterates its warning that everyone must follow the safety guidelines of local authorities. Those who have the resources to do so are encouraged to try to leave Lebanon by their own means. Beirut airport remains in operation, with flights operated by the Lebanese company Middle East Airlines. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs consular hotline numbers remain available, both with access via WhatsApp: +55 (61) 98260-0610 and +55 (61) 98313-0146.
HISTORY - The operation’s first flight landed in Brazil on Sunday, October 6. The group with 229 passengers and three pets was received by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who reinforced that the country will continue its efforts to bring all Brazilians and their families in need. On Tuesday, October 8, a new flight brought 227 passengers and four more pets to São Paulo. On Thursday, 10, a third flight arrived with 218 passengers and five pets. The fourth flight landed on Saturday, October 12, with 211 passengers. The fifth flight landed on October 14, with 220 passengers and two pets.
SUPPLIES — In addition to rescuing Brazilians and their families, Brazil has been using the KC-30's trip to Lebanon to send in strategic health supplies. The operation has already delivered more than 47 tons of donations, including hospital supplies, food hampers and others.
ASSISTANCE — Upon arriving in Brazil, families are received by specialized teams from the Ministry of Social Development and Assistance, Family and Hunger Eradication, and the UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM). Team members address immediate needs and assess whether people have family or social protection networks in Brazil and determine the need for shelter within the Unified Social Assistance System (Sistema Único de Assistência Social/SUAS), temporary accommodation. In the case of families in vulnerable conditions, the possibility of becoming part of Federal Government social programs such as Bolsa Família is also verified.
HEALTH — Another group that works on the arrival of those rescued from Lebanon is the National Health Service Force, made up of doctors, nurses and psychologists who provide physical and mental health care to the repatriated. The team receives a type of manual of the country's customs —covering culture, behavior, clothing, language, religion and food — in order to provide more humane and welcoming care.
IDENTIFICATION — The task force for welcoming Brazilians who were repatriated from Lebanon also includes staff from the Ministry of Justice and Public Security (Ministério da Justiça e Segurança Pública/MJSP), who assists in the control and identification of new arrivals. The work is carried out with the support of the Federal Police and the Federal Highway Police (Polícia Rodoviária Federal).
PETS — The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Ministério da Agricultura e Pecuária) has continued to keep the rules for the entry of dogs and cats flexible. The departments of the International Agricultural Surveillance (Vigilância Agropecuária Internacional) and the National Coordination of Transit and Integration of Cargo and Passengers (Coordenação de Trânsito e Integração Nacional de Cargas e Passageiros) have adopted a special protocol for pets coming from the Middle East. The procedure allows owners to enter without immediately presenting the documents required under normal conditions.
RETURNING IN PEACE — The repatriation and reception actions are similar to those carried out by the Federal Government between October 2023 and January 2024, in Operation Returning in Peace (Operação Voltando em Paz), which repatriated more than 1,500 Brazilians and around 50 pets from conflict zones in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and Israel.
THE OPERATION — Operation Cedar Roots was established by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva following the escalation of the confrontation between Israel and the Hezbollah group which operates in Lebanon. The repatriation logistics involve the use of Brazilian Air Force (Força Aérea Brasileira) aircraft and personnel, and intense coordination efforts by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.