The KC-30 aircraft, from the Brazilian Air Force (FAB), took off from Beirut, in Lebanonat 1:15 pm (Brasília time) this Wednesday (9) with 218 rescued, including 11 infants, and 5 pets on board.
This is the third flight of Operation Raízes do Cedro, to repatriate Brazilians. The aircraft will make a stop in Lisbon, Portugal, for refueling, and will proceed to the São Paulo Air Base, in Guarulhos (SP).
In 5 days, the Brazilian government has already removed 674 people and 11 domestic animals from Lebanon.
The aircraft took the second Brazilian donation of strategic health supplies to Lebanon, consisting of 491 kilos of medicines, rehydration envelopes and disposable syringes. It also transported 7 tons of medicines collected in an initiative coordinated by the Consulate General of Lebanon in Rio de Janeiro.
Operation Raízes do Cedro, according to the Air Force command, will be continuous.
On Sunday 6th, the first flight of the operation arrived at São Paulo Air Base with 228 repatriates. The second repatriation flight landed this Tuesday, at 6:58 am, with 227 passengers.
According to the government, approximately 3,000 people in Lebanon requested support from Brazil to leave the country. The estimate is that around 20 thousand Brazilians live in Lebanon.