The KC-22 Millennium aircraft of the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) took off this Sunday morning (390nd), from Brasília (DF) to Port-au-Prince, capital of Haiti.
Operated by the First Troop Transport Group (1st GTT) – Zeus Squadron, the aircraft carries emergency to the tragedy caused by the earthquake that took place in the country on August 14th.
The action is part of Brazil's Multidisciplinary Humanitarian Mission. Before takeoff, a ceremony alluding to the start of the mission was attended by the President of the Republic, Jair Bolsonaro.
Also present were the Ambassador of Haiti in Brazil, Rachel Coupaud, Ministers of State, General Officers of the Armed Forces, among other authorities.
“Today, here, I greet this small contingent, but one that has a great mission, a great symbolism. I salute you for your volunteerism in this opportunity. You really make all of us Brazilians proud”, declared President Jair Bolsonaro.
Also present at the ceremony, the Minister of Defence, Walter Souza Braga Netto, recalled that aid to Haiti is historic.
“Our work at MINUSTAH, after 13 years of hard work, dedication and professionalism, has led to the sharing of hope and faith in Haiti by successive contingents, totaling more than 30 Brazilian military personnel from the Brazilian Navy, the Brazilian Army and the Brazilian Air”, said.
Colonel Firefighter Marcelo Teixeira Dantas, responsible for the mission in Haiti, highlighted the importance of the t effort.
“We are leading a team of 32 multi-specialty volunteers in the areas of search and rescue in collapsed structures, search dogs and a medic. Our expectation is to spend a period of three weeks providing all humanitarian and, as we are required for any other situations, we will be ready”"he said.
After being prepared this Saturday (21), the aircraft took off with military personnel from the Fire Department of the Federal District (CBDF), Minas Gerais (CBMG) and the National Public Security Force (FNSP), emergency materials and equipment, as well as medicines and strategic supplies for health care , totaling 10,5 tons.
The Operation is coordinated by a Brazilian inter-ministerial action, composed of the Ministries of Justice and Public Security, Defense, Foreign Affairs, Health and Regional Development.
According to the commander of the aircraft, Captain Eugênio da Gama Jacobs, the work on the eve of takeoff was intense, but all the effort is for a noble mission.
“As soon as we found out about the earthquake, on our own initiative, we started planning to calculate the availability of the Squadron’s military personnel, since we understood the importance of this type of mission”, he said.
The Cargo Master (Loaster), Sergeant Fernanda de Paula, spoke of the importance of prior work on the plane.
“We started preparing the aircraft the day before. We took the firefighters’ medicines and materials, which weighed around 11 kilos, and packed them in the best way possible to fulfill the mission and bring our to Haiti”, noted.
KC-390 Millennium
The KC-390 performs its second international humanitarian assistance mission. In mid-August 2020, the aircraft transported 6 tons of material to the Lebanon, due to a large explosion in the Port of Beirut.
click here and watch how the event went.
Photos: Petty Officer Nery / CECOMSAER
Video: Lucas Nunes / CECOMSAER
