Brasília – Brazil’s president Jair Bolsonaro (pictured) said this Wednesday (5) that he reached out to Lebanon’s ambassador to Brazil, Joseph Sayah, to convey his solidarity towards the Lebanese people. according to the president, Brazil will “take action” to help in the wake of the blast at the Port of Beirut, which killed dozens and wounded thousands on Tuesday (4).
Bolsonaro pointed out that the Lebanese population in Brazil exceeds 5 million. He said he got in touch with Sayah to let him know that Brazil will “perform more than one gesture” to the benefit of the Lebanese people. “We will do something concrete to help cater to the dozens of thousands of people who are in a difficult situation, because in addition to being injured, they had their homes hit,” the president said during the signature solemnity in Amapá that saw state-run company Eletronorte appointed to roll out the Mais Luz para Amazônia electric light program.
“Brazil is endowed with solidarity, and we convey this sentiment to the people of Lebanon. We will be there to help that people, millions of whom are in our country,” he said. The administration had previously issued a statement expressing sympathy and informing that no Brazilian citizens have been killed or gravely wounded. Lebanon is in national mourning this Wednesday.
The explosion has put Lebanon in a delicate situation when it comes to food supplies, since it compromised an area in the port where grains are stored. Minister of Economy Raoul Nehme told news outlets that the food stockpiled elsewhere is enough for less than a month.
Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
