Mauro Vieira explains operation to repatriate Brazilians from Lebanon on 'Bom Dia, Ministro'

In an interview to radio program Bom Dia, Ministro (Good Morning, Minister) on Wednesday, October 9, Mauro Vieira (Foreign Affairs) presented concepts, challenges and the work of the Federal Government to rescue Brazilian citizens and their families from the conflict zone in Lebanon. Operation Cedar Roots [Raízes do Cedro] has already completed two flights, bringing back to Brazil 456 people and six pets. A third flight took off from Beirut on Wednesday.

This is a large-scale operation. It will be greater than the operation in Palestine, the Gaza Strip and Israel last year, when approximately 1,560 people were rescued. Now, projections and expectations are even greater. Around three thousand people are in contact with the Brazilian Embassy in Beirut.”

Mauro Vieira, minister of Foreign Affairs

“This is a large-scale operation. It will be greater than the operation in Palestine, the Gaza Strip and Israel last year, when approximately 1,560 people were rescued. Now, projections and expectations are even greater. Around three thousand people are in contact with the Brazilian Embassy in Beirut,” said the minister.

“The Embassy is in constant contact and dialogue with the Brazilian community. A system is in place for communication via email, WhatsApp and groups that list Brazilians in the region. There are around 20,000 Brazilians living in Beirut and in the surrounding areas of other Lebanese cities and many have expressed that they want to come back,” said Vieira.

Raízes do Cedro was established by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva following the beginning of a new conflict between Israel and the Hezbollah group which operates in Lebanon. Brazil’s humanitarian operation involves teams from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs [Ministério das Relações Exteriores] in Brasília and the Brazilian Embassy in Beirut, from the Ministry of Defense [Ministério da Defesa] and relies on the operational logistics of the Brazilian Air Force [Força Aérea Brasileira/FAB].

Priority on the rescue lists is given to women, children, the elderly and Brazilians who are not residents of Lebanon. The crew always includes a multidisciplinary team of doctors, nurses and psychologists to ensure assistance. In Brazil, employees from various ministries work to welcome the Brazilians and their families providing attention to health, document regularization, social assistance, shelter and domestic transfers.

SUPPLIES – The same aircraft that is bringing back the Brazilians has been used by the Federal Government to send health supplies over to Lebanon. On Tuesday, 491 Kilos of medicines, rehydration envelopes and disposable syringes were sent, in an action coordinated by the Brazilian Cooperation Agency [Agência Brasileira de Cooperação/ABC] of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in partnership with the Ministry of Health [Ministério da Saúde] and the Ministry of Defense [Ministério da Defesa]. In addition to this cargo, seven tons of medicines collected in an initiative coordinated by the Consulate General of Lebanon in Rio de Janeiro were sent. On Sunday, the first donation cargo sent to the Middle Easter country on the plane deployed to rescue the Brazilians carried 20,000 syringes with needles and 4,000 individual needles. “It has also been reported that there are donations of clothes and other types of supplies. On these flights we are available to take donations and medicines. This is proof of the solidarity of the Brazilian community of Lebanese descent and of Brazilians as a whole,” said Mauro Vieira.

MIDDLE EAST – When asked about Brazil’s position regarding the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, the minister stressed that the nation is in favor of diplomacy. “Brazil has been very vocal in condemning the acts of violence that led to the beginning of this conflict, with Hamas’ attack on Israel a year ago, but it has also constantly criticized Israel’s disproportionate reaction,” he said. Vieira mentioned the data resulting from the conflict – which has already killed more than 1,200 in Israel and 41,000 in Palestine; displaced approximately 1.2 million people; and killed another 2,000 in Lebanon. “No one wins from this. There will only be more deaths and human and infrastructure losses.” The minister also stressed Brazil’s commitment to maintaining its diplomatic tradition of promoting peace and dialogue. “Due to its diplomatic tradition, Brazil is always ready to maintain a dialogue, a conversation, with any country that is open to this and with any group of countries that wants to work towards a peaceful and negotiated solution to all differences.”

PARTICIPATION – Bom Dia, Ministro (or Good Morning, Minister) is a weekly radio program produced by the Brazilian Communications Company (Empresa Brasil de Comunicação/EBC) and the Presidency’s Secretariat of Social Communications (Secretaria de Comunicação Social/Secom). This edition included: Rádio Nacional/EBC (Brasilia); Rádio Bandeirantes (São Paulo); Rádio Metrópoles (Brasilia); Rádio Liberal (Belém); Antena Esportiva (Rio de Janeiro); Agro FM (Lucas do Rio Verde); Rádio CBN (Maringá); and Rádio Gazeta (Maceió).