Operation “Cedar Roots”, coordinated by the Federal Government, reached a significant milestone by repatriating 1.105 Brazilians and 14 pets (four dogs and ten cats) from Lebanon in just 8 days. The fifth flight landed at 6:06 am (Brasília time) this Monday (14/10), at the São Paulo Air Base (BASP), in Guarulhos (SP). There were 220 repatriated people and 2 pets on board.
Amid the conflict raging in Lebanon, the Brazilian Air Force (FAB), using the KC-30 aircraft from the Corsário Squadron, conducted a series of rescue flights, ensuring the protection of citizens and transporting 43 tons of donations, such as hospital supplies and basic food baskets. The operation, which began on October 2, involves the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MRE), the Ministry of Defense (MD) and the FAB, with the General Personnel Command (COMGEP) coordinating the FAB health teams, and has already established itself as one of the largest repatriation efforts in conflict zones.
Since the beginning of the mission, the FAB crew, which left Brazil for Lisbon, remained on constant alert, awaiting suitable conditions to continue to Beirut. On October 5, the aircraft took off from Portugal to Lebanon, and on the 10th, the first group of approximately 6 repatriated people arrived in Brazil. Since then, five flights have been carried out, transporting 230 Brazilians, all disembarking at the São Paulo Air Base (BASP), in Guarulhos (SP). In total, the operation has recorded 1.105 successful landings.
The Commander of the Corsair Squadron, Lieutenant Colonel Marcos Fassarella Olivieri, reported the tension experienced on Lebanese soil. “We heard explosions in the conflict zone. We know that there is a risk of bombings near the airport or even the closure of the airspace. The most critical moment would be if this happened with the aircraft on the ground, during boarding, which would prevent us from taking off. All this tension turns into relief as soon as takeoff is authorized. The greatest reward is seeing the smiles on the faces of Brazilians, especially children,” he highlighted.
The Air Force Health Directorate (DIRSA), through the Operational Health Subdirectorate (SDSOP) and with the of the Air Force Psychology Institute (IPA), has coordinated a multidisciplinary team to assist those repatriated from Lebanon, ensuring medical and psychological assistance with warmth and empathy. “Our teams, made up of doctors, nurses, psychologists and nursing technicians, are prepared to act in critical scenarios. We face challenges such as cultural differences, diverse health conditions and limited time to conduct complete assessments, in addition to the uncertainty of the scenario encountered”, stated Major Juliana Freire Vandesteen, a member of the multidisciplinary health team coordination team.
According to the Major, continuous care, which begins at boarding and continues until disembarking, requires detailed planning and a highly qualified team in operational health and aerospace medicine. “Among the measures adopted are health monitoring during the flight, immediate psychological and emergency care. The most frequent cases are gastrointestinal disorders, anxiety attacks and hypertensive peaks, most of which are related to stress. We dedicate special care to pregnant women, the elderly and children, who are in more fragile conditions”, he concluded.
The emotional impact of the operation was deeply felt by the returnees. Linda Ahmat Nassar, mother of pregnant Fatima Karim, expressed immense gratitude for having been able to leave Lebanon. “I want to thank the Air Force for allowing my grandson to be born in the same country where his mother was born, a safe place, where children have freedom,” she said emotionally.
With two crews taking turns, each consisting of 18 , the FAB maintains a continuous flow of rescues, ensuring that more Brazilians can return to the country with safety and dignity.
On October 7, the Air Force Logistics Transport Center (CTLA) carried out an essential humanitarian mission, transporting three tons of medicines from the Lebanese Consulate General in Rio de Janeiro to the São Paulo Air Base (BASP) in Guarulhos (SP). The shipment is part of a coordinated action to help victims of the conflict in Lebanon.
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