The Brazilian government already has a reception operation ready for the group coming from the Gaza Strip

The National Secretary of Justice of the Ministry of Justice and Public Security, Augusto de Arruda Botelho, detailed on Friday, November 10, how the reception operation is being organized for the group of 34 people waiting to leave the Gaza Strip and join the Brazilian Federal Government's repatriation operation. Brazilians and their families are already on the official list of foreigners allowed to leave the region and are only waiting in Rafah for the opening of the border to board the return flight on the presidency aircraft from Egypt. Arruda Botelho explained that they will receive medical attention and have a period of rest in Brasilia before moving on to other cities in Brazil.

As soon as they arrive in Brazil, we will have this dynamic. When they land here, they will receive medical care. The Ministry of Health will welcome them with nurses, doctors and social workers. Afterwards, there will be immigration regularization, with the Federal Police, as many of them do not even have documents
AUGUSTO DE ARRUDA BOTELHO
National Secretary of Justice
Ministry of Justice and Public Security

"This reception operation is coordinated by us, with the support of a number of ministries. As soon as they arrive in Brazil, we will have this dynamic. When they land here, they will receive medical care. The Ministry of Health will welcome them with nurses, doctors and social workers. Afterwards, there will be immigration regularization, with the Federal Police, as many of them do not even have documents," reported the secretary.

Botelho explained that agencies specializing in refugee assistance, such as the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), will also help. The repatriates will receive food and spend two nights in Brazilian Air Force (FAB) lodgings.

"Some Brazilians already have a certain destination because they have relatives here, so they will be relocated there. A significant portion, almost half of the group, has nowhere to stay, but the Federal Government has already made it available through the Ministry of Social Development, a place where these people will be sheltered. It is going to be in the countryside of the state of São Paulo," said the secretary.

According to Botelho, there is no specific deadline for assistance provided by the Federal Government to repatriates. "We are prepared for as long as it takes for these people to integrate into our country. There is no fixed deadline. We are ready to welcome them in the best possible manner. They will stay in a place with a long experience of welcoming refugees in the most complete, dignified way, without a time limit," he concluded.

Brazilian Air Force dormitories that will be used to welcome brazilians who will come from Gaza. Credit: FAB

RETURNING IN PEACE — When the presidency aircraft touches the ground in Brasilia with the 34 refugees in Gaza, Brazil’s Returning in Peace Operation will have transported 1,479 passengers, including 1,464 Brazilians, 11 Palestinians, three Bolivians and one Jordanian, as well as 53 pets. Three aircraft from the Brazilian Air Force (Força Aérea Brasileira/FAB) and two from the presidency were used for logistics.