The third repatriation flight for Brazilians arrived in Brazil at 8:20 am this Thursday (10) with 217 passengers, including 11 children and five domestic animals.
In addition to rescuing Brazilians and their families, the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) plane is being used by Brazil to send health supplies to Lebanon. The aircraft has already transported 491 kilograms of medicines, rehydration envelopes and disposable syringes.
The third flight took off from Beirut on Wednesday (9) with 218 passengers. However, a 41-year-old man had to stay in Lisbon, where the aircraft made a technical stop, due to suspected thrombosis.
The FAB medical team identified the problem and the passenger began to receive medical assistance in Portugal. The consulate in Lisbon is also monitoring the case.
The government has already rescued 673 Brazilians and their families from Lebanon, as well as six pets.
The priority in composing the lists is for women, children and the elderly. The estimate is that the Brazilian community in Lebanon is 20 thousand people.
Mauro Vieira said, in an interview with the “Good morning, Minister” program this Wednesday (9), that the operation in Lebanon has the potential to be even bigger than the one carried out last year in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, when around 1,560 Brazilians and family members, in addition to more than 50 domestic animals, were rescued.
“There is constant contact, a dialogue between the embassy and the Brazilian community. An email system, WhatsApp, brings together Brazilians in the region. There are around 20 thousand in Beirut, surrounding other cities in Lebanon and a large number expressed interest in returning”, said the minister.
