Rio de Janeiro – Some 300 Brazilian sailors boarded frigate União on Thursday (06) to join the United Nations (UN) peace mission to Lebanon, Unifil. Last Thursday, the ministries of Defence and Foreign Relations had informed that the vessel was scheduled to leave on the 4th.
Frigate União left Mocanguê naval base, in Niterói, in the metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro, late in the morning. The forecast is that it should arrive in Beirut Port, some 15,000 kilometres away from the Brazilian coast, in approximately one month, after stops in Recife, Las Palmas, Spain, and Naples, Italy.
Brazil has been participating in the mission since February this year, when counter admiral Luiz Henrique Caroli took over the command of the Maritime Task Force of the Unifil, but this is the first time that the country sends a vessel and large contingent of sailors.
According to frigate captain Ricardo Gomes, the commander of the vessel, participation in this mission strengthens the country’s capacity to operate in distant areas, in conflict, and for a long period. He explained that the force is responsible for control of merchant marine traffic in the region.
“Frigate União should operate in captaincy commanding the maritime fleet. The objective is to assist the government of Lebanon in the control of its territorial waters to avoid the entry of unauthorised material, like weapons, or for there to be no illegal activities in the region. It is a pioneering task that should allow the Navy to show all its capacity for operation in areas in these conditions.”
The commander pointed out that the vessel is considered multiple employ, as it can operate in all war environments: engaging in and aiding in land warfare as well as in anti-aircraft fire and anti-submarine fire.
Frigate União should serve as a support base for a multinational group, composed of three vessels from Germany, two from Bangladesh, one from Greece, one from Indonesia and one from Turkey. Apart from that, it transports an AH-11A Super Lynx helicopter, a group of combat divers for special operations and a troop of marines, responsible for the vessel’s safety.
Gomes pointed out that to reduce the longing for home during the eight months they will be away from home, the vessel counts on a modern satellite communications system. Using the equipment, crew members may use telephony, internet and television services.
“Being away from home is part of a sailor’s life, but this period is longer than usual. Fortunately we have a modern structure and they may even watch the Brazilian Football Championship during the mission,” he added, humorously.
Amidst the tears that mix longing and pride, Carlinda Linhares, the mother of Alan Alves, went to bid farewell to her son, as he prepared to board. “We will miss him dearly, but I am sure that they are going to do wonderful work. This career has always been his dream and we have to support it,” she said.
Housewife Seandra Linhares, married to corporal Renato Linhares for 13 years, said that she is already counting down the days for her husband’s return, scheduled for June 2012. “Despite the joy of knowing that he is going to participate in such an important peace mission, the pain is great. Tears were running while I packed his bag, it was not possible to hold them back. Now I am already planning the celebration on his return,” she said, hugging the sailor.
Weapons corporal Rafael Alves also said farewell to his mother, Graça Maria Alves, before boarding the frigate. At 28 years of age, ten of which dedicated to the Navy, the youth faces the mission as an award. “I am sure that this trip is an award for me. We suffer when we are away, but we learn much with experience and return making plans for a military career.”
To Alves’ mother, what will be hardest will be the end of year celebrations and Mother’s day without her son. “These dates are very marking and I know that I am going to suffer much when he is away. But I will anxiously await a phone call,” she said.
Unifil was established in 1978 aimed at maintaining stability in the region, during the retreat of Israeli troops out of the Lebanese territory. Currently, the personnel in the region are approximately 13,500 people, both military and civil from 30 countries, under the command of a Spanish general.
*With information from the ANBA newsroom. Translated by Mark Ament
