Around 7 thousand Brazilians in Lebanon expressed interest in being repatriated, says Mauro Vieira

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mauro Vieira, stated this Wednesday (9) that around seven thousand Brazilians living in Lebanon have expressed an interest in leaving the country, since the beginning of warnings from the Brazilian government about a possible intensification of the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.

However, according to Vieira, repatriation depends on different factors and, therefore, it is unlikely that everyone will end up returning to Brazil. The embassy’s most concrete projection, according to the minister, is that three thousand people will be repatriated.

“A few months ago, we began work to alert the population about the problems and difficulties that could arise from the expansion of the conflict in Palestine to countries in the region, and around seven thousand people said that they would eventually be interested in leaving,” he stated in interview with the EBC program Bom Dia, Minister.

“But this number is not absolute and does not mean that everyone will leave. There are the most diverse situations, such as family members who cannot leave and the evolution of events.”, he added.

Even so, the minister states that the repatriation of Brazilians in Lebanon will be greater than that carried out in 2023, to rescue citizens in the Gaza Strip.

“It is a large operation. It will be bigger than the operation in Palestine, in the Gaza Strip, in Israel, when approximately 1,560 people were rescued. Now, projections and expectations are greater. Around three thousand people”, said the minister.

The operation to repatriate Brazilians in Lebanon has already rescued 456 people and 6 pets, through two flights operated by the Brazilian Air Force (FAB). A third flight arrived in Beirut this Wednesday morning and is expected to take off back to Brazil later today.

According to the government, priority on the rescue lists is for women, children, the elderly and Brazilians not residing in Lebanon.

Brazilian position

Asked about Brazil’s position in the face of the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, the minister highlighted Brazil’s commitment to maintaining the diplomatic tradition of promoting peace and dialogue and said that “no one wins” from a war.

“Brazil has been very vocal in condemning the acts of violence that led to the start of this conflict, with the Hamas attack on Israel a year ago, but it has also constantly criticized Israel’s disproportionate reaction,” he declared.

“Nobody wins. There will only be more deaths, human and infrastructure losses”, added the minister.