This Saturday, the Minister of the Interior underlined the “significant contribution” that 144 members of the Portuguese security and civil protection forces will make in fighting fires in Chile as the contingent departs for the South American country.
“Solidarity is the first word I wanted to leave to the Chilean people, and it materialized within your reach,” José Luis Carneiro told 144 people who listened to him at the military airport in Figo Maduro before leaving for Chile.
“I also want to leave you the word of confidence in your personal skills and technical and professional capabilities that will make a significant contribution to the protection of people, goods, forests, biodiversity, but I understand very well that your first calling is to save humanity. lives,” he added.
In a message to members of the various security and civil protection forces, José Luis Carneiro also expressed “gratitude for their willingness to serve the values of Portugal, which are also being implemented on the international front”, and left words of appreciation for “accessibility, pride and professionalism and the vocation to serve the interests of humanism, solidarity in this international mission.
With the departure of the operational force this Saturday (Focon), which will help fight the incessant fires in Chile.
According to the executive branch, Focon is composed of 144 operatives from the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC), the Civil Protection Special Forces (FEPC) of the ANEPC, the National Republican Guard, the Institute for the Conservation of Nature and Forests, the fire departments of Lisbon and the Tagus Valley region and National Institute of Emergency Medicine.
Speaking to reporters, Chilean Ambassador to Portugal Marina Teitelboim thanked these specialists for their help and recalled the long-standing friendship between the two countries.
“Portugal was the first country to recognize the independence of Chile, and since then we have very friendly, warm relations, and we have a similar history of earthquakes, tsunamis, dictatorships, and the Portuguese people have always helped Chile, especially in these fires. which are the largest over the past three decades,” the diplomat said.
Chile is facing a wave of wildfires in the center and south of the country that has killed several people, displaced hundreds of people from their homes and caused damage to buildings.
The regions most affected were Biobio, Sible and La Araucania.
In addition to Portugal, Spain and France are also assisting: Madrid is sending two teams to fight forest fires on land, a total of 28 people, as well as a forest fire assessment and advisory team of 10 experts. France sent a team of 80 firefighters.
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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