An airplane of the Brazilian Air Force landed on Tuesday in Recife, in the
northeastern Pernambuco state, bringing 78 passengers who left Adana, in the
south of Turkey, Monday evening.
The mission was organized by the Brazilian Foreign Relations Ministry as part
of a major operation to evacuate citizens of Brazil and other South American
countries from conflict areas in Lebanon. It was the 12th Brazils government
flight to rescue refugees.
Additionally to the Brazilians, there were 14 Lebanese, two Argentineans and
one Paraguayan in the flight. From Recife, the plane headed for Sao Paulo,
Brazil's largest city, where it landed this afternoon.
The Brazilian Foreign Relations Ministry started on July 17 to evacuate
people from Lebanon.
Brazil's Consul in Lebanon Michael Gepp said Tuesday that the Ministry is
upset with citizens who sign up lists to leave the country and give up without
informing the Consulate.
According to Khaled Haimour, an informal community leader who organizes the
lists in the Bekaa Valley, where most Brazilians live in Lebanon, the list for
the next flight to leave for Brazil tomorrow amounts to 130 names.
