Brazilian humanitarian mission to fight wildfires in Canada

At the request of the Canadian government, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva determined the sending of a Brazilian humanitarian mission to Canada to help fight the forest fires that have been burning in that country since March 2023 and got worse in June. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Brazilian Cooperation Agency (ABC), responsible for overseeing the Brazilian humanitarian cooperation, will coordinate the mission.

The Brazilian mission of 104 forest fires experts will operate in the most affected forests in Canada and will stay in that country for one month.

Professionals of the following agencies participate in the mission: the Brazilian Institute for the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA) and the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBIO) of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MMA); the National Secretariat for Protection and Civil Defense of the Ministry of Integration and Regional Development (MIDR); the National Public Security Force (FNSP) of  the Ministry of Justice and Public Security (MJSP); and the military fire brigades of the states of Acre, Amapá, Amazonas, Bahia, Ceará, Espírito Santo, Goiás, Maranhão, Mato Grosso, Minas Gerais, Pará, Paraíba, Paraná, Pernambuco, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Sul, Rondônia , Santa Catarina, São Paulo, Tocantins, and the Federal District.

The Ministries of Defence, Transport and Finance are cooperating in the organization of the mission, along with the National Council of Military Fire Brigades of Brazil (LIGABOM) and other federal and state departments.

According to legal provision by the Canadian government, Brazil's expenses with the humanitarian mission will be reimbursed by that country, which will also offer an aircraft to transport Brazilian experts and their equipment.