The ceremony also recognized the organizations that were vital in dealing with the floods that occurred in Rio Grande do Sul.
Air Force Agency, by Lieutenant Wanessa Liz And Lieutenant Johny Lucas
On Wednesday (August 21), the Galeão Air Base (BAGL), in Rio de Janeiro (RJ), held the closing ceremony of the “Todos Unidos pelo Sul” (All Together for the South) campaign, presided over by the Commander of the Air Force, Air Brigadier Lieutenant Marcelo Kanitz Damasceno. The campaign was a response to the tragedy that struck Rio Grande do Sul (RS) at the end of April this year.
From the outset, the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) played a crucial role in supporting the affected communities, carrying out rescues and distributing donations. Present at the ceremony were members of the Air Force High Command, General Officers, Commanders, Chiefs, Directors and Mayors of Air Force Military Organizations, Master Graduates of the Afonsos and Santa Cruz Air Force Garrisons, Civil and Military authorities.
A joint initiative involving the Brasília, Galeão and São Paulo Air Bases stood out for its efforts to provide emergency humanitarian aid to the victims of the tragedy. The national mobilization was extraordinary, with thousands of Brazilians responding to the FAB’s campaign to donate food, water, clothes, blankets, toys and hygiene items. Foreign support was also significant, with aircraft loaded with supplies landing daily at Canoas Air Base (BACO), which became a crucial point of support for both the population and the local and national governments.
For more than two months, Operation Taquari 2 mobilized efforts across the country, resulting in the collection and transport of around 3,500 tons of donations from Rio de Janeiro alone to the people of Rio Grande do Sul. The FAB also rescued more than 2,000 people from the affected areas. These actions were only possible thanks to the commitment of military personnel and volunteers, who worked day and night at Galeão Air Base, where the operation was coordinated.
The ceremony also paid tribute to institutions that played a key role in this task force. Among those honored were representatives from the Navy’s Customs Distribution and Operations Center, Sindicargas, the Legion of Good Will (LBV), MRS, Maersk, Ação Cidadania, the Rio Solidário Civil Association and the Brazilian Army’s 1st Supply Depot.
The collaboration between these organizations was crucial to the success of the campaign, which managed to mobilize resources and logistics in record time, ensuring that humanitarian aid reached the most affected areas quickly. The campaign, which stood out for its spirit of solidarity and cooperation, is an example of what can be achieved when different sectors of society join forces for a common goal.
In his remarks, the Commander of the Air Force, Air Brigadier Damasceno, thanked the people of Rio de Janeiro and all Brazilians for their solidarity in helping the people of Rio Grande do Sul. “Humility and gratitude, which are always present in the Brazilian people, were expressed in support of our brothers and sisters in the South after one of the biggest floods in history.
The Brazilian Air Force, together with partners and volunteers, led an extraordinary mobilization, transporting donations and rescuing thousands of people and animals. This operation was an example of solidarity and coordination, with the infrastructure of Canoas Air Base playing a crucial role. The gratitude for everyone’s effort, civilian and military, is eternal and will always be remembered,” he concluded.
The Commander of BAGL, Colonel Fábio Ferreira Silva, commented on the operation and the involvement of the population of Rio de Janeiro. “Ever since Galeão Air Base was engaged in the mission, we’ve only thought about serving, about being ready.
We had no idea of the magnitude of the action. The days went by and the hangars received donations, an immense demonstration of empathy and solidarity on the part of the people of Rio de Janeiro.
The Galeão Base is the oldest, and reaffirms its capacity for mobility and mobilization, due to the resources it has, its strategic location close to the railroad, the ports, the main roads that connect the country, and its enormous capacity for integration with society, which can be seen today in the various organizations that came here to be honoured,” he concluded.
During the campaign, the Air Force Intendency worked hard together with volunteers and local organizations to distribute the funds raised efficiently and equitably. As a result, several FAB squadrons participated intensively in the mission, totaling more than 2,300 hours flown.
Photo and Video: Sergeant Mônica / CECOMSAER