The first repatriation flight for Brazilians from the conflict area in Lebanon took off at 1:18 pm (Brasília time) this Saturday (5). The KC 30 aircraft, from the Brazilian Air Force (FAB), left Beirut Airport with 229 people, in addition to the crew and three domestic animals.
Arrival in Brazil is scheduled for this Sunday (6), late morning, at the São Paulo Air Base, in Guarulhos. Before that, the plane makes a technical stop in Lisbon, Portugal.
“The first repatriation flight of Operation Raízes do Cedro has already taken off. The plan is to rescue people who expressed interest in returning to Brazil, with priority for the elderly, women, children, pregnant women and people with disabilities”, posted President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on his Instagram profile.
In the KC-30 crew, there is a multidisciplinary team with three doctors, two nurses and two psychologists to guarantee reception and assistance.
The flight resembles the profile of the 13 that were made in Operation Returning in Peace, carried out in 2023 to rescue almost 1,600 Brazilians and more than 50 domestic animals from conflict zones in Israel, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock continued to relax rules for the entry of dogs and cats accompanying repatriated citizens and refugees.
The guidelines facilitate the process of entry of these animals into Brazil. As a result, the International Agricultural Surveillance (Vigiagro) units, together with the Transit Coordination and National Integration of Cargo and Passengers, are now adopting a special protocol for pets from the Middle East.
The procedure allows guardians to enter with their pets without immediately presenting the health documents required under normal conditions.
