The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MRE) denied, this Tuesday (5), that repatriation flights for Brazilian citizens and family members living in Lebanon will be suspended. Information about the supposed suspension was reported in the press.
From the beginning of October until this Tuesday (5), 10 trips were made using the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) KC-30 aircraft. In total, 2,072 people were brought from the Middle Eastern country to Brazil, as well as 24 pets. Furthermore, the Brazilian government sent more than 27 tons of essential items to Lebanon, such as medical and hospital supplies, food and other donations.
According to Itamaraty itself, around 3,000 Brazilian citizens registered at the Brazilian Embassy in Beirut, the Lebanese capital, to get a place on repatriation flights. The ministry officially informed that new operations to rescue nationals from the conflict zone are being scheduled for the next few days.
The conflict in Lebanon, intensified by air and ground attacks by Israel since the end of September, has already resulted in the confirmed deaths of three Brazilian citizens, all minors. The most recent victim was baby Fátima Abbas1 year old. The conflict began last year, after a Hamas attack on Israel, an ally of Hezbollah.
In Lebanon alone, the number of civilians killed in the conflict exceeds 2,800 people, according to data from international news agencies.