São Paulo – Lebanon’s president Michel Aoun welcomed this Thursday (13) a Brazilian delegation led by former president Michel Temer that flew to Lebanon to deliver donated supplies. Temer was chosen by Brazil’s federal government to helm the mission. He and his entourage boarded a Beirut-bound Embraer 190 (VC-2) aircraft from São Paulo on Wednesday (12). Another plane – a KC-390 Millenium – took off carrying donations from Brazil’s Ministry of Health and organizations including the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (ABCC).
The aircraft was loaded up with first-aid kits, 100,000 surgical masks, 300 ventilators, food and medicine, to a total of 6 tons. Both planes landed in Lebanon in the mid-afternoon, the Brazilian Air Force said. Four thousand tons of rice are also en route from Brazil to Lebanon on board a ship – stockpiles of cereal were destroyed by explosion at the Port of Beirut.
Temer conveyed his sympathy to Lebanon’s president for those killed and injured and the damage from the blast, on behalf of his Brazilian counterpart Jair Bolsonaro, the Brazilian people, and Lebanese descendants in Brazil. He told Aoun about the donations, Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) reported.
“Brazil, its president, its government and its people are also affected by whatever ails Lebanon. We extend our sympathy and we will always be by your side because we are attuned to the terrible affliction that befell you,” the NNA quoted Temer as saying. Aoun said his country is appreciative of Brazil’s display of solidarity. “This is only natural, considering the long-standing friendship between our countries, and the presence of the Lebanese community in Brazil,” he said, giving special thanks for the rice that’s being shipped – which Lebanon is in dire need of.
Lebanon’s president told the Brazilian entourage of the damage at the port and its relevance to the national economy. He also said Lebanon is in great need. Aoun said that in addition humanitarian aid, the country needs support to rebuild, including glass, aluminum, wood and cement. He also said that the disaster comes in the wake of numerous other crises, including a massive influx of Syrian migrants, economic problems, and the Covid-19 pandemic. Lebanon’s president called on Temer to relay an invitation to president Bolsonaro to pay a visit to Lebanon.
Upon leaving the meeting, Temer told the press about the major Lebanese and Lebanese-descendant community in Brazil, and about their role in supplying the donations. The former president said the community has vowed to send in further aid. The ABCC both donated and collected donations from third parties in Brazil, alongside other organizations. It will go on campaigning for donations going forward.
Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
