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.

Source: Xinhua