Vice Chairman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs Ngo Trinh Ha

Vice Chairman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs (SCOV) Ngo Trinh Ha has provided information about the protection and rescue of Vietnamese citizens in the face of complicated developments in Ukraine.

Nearly 7,000 Vietnamese are living, working or studying in Ukraine, mostly in big cities such as Kiev (800 Vietnamese), Kharkov (3,000), Odessa (3,000) and other cities such as Kherson and Donetsk.

According to Ha, there have been no reports about deaths of the Vietnamese in Ukraine.

The Party and State leaders have paid close attention to and have given instructions on ensuring the security and safety of life and property of the Vietnamese community in Ukraine.

On February 26, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh sent a telegram, asking relevant agencies to apply measures to protect Vietnamese citizens and legal entities, and give support to the Vietnamese community in Ukraine.

Implementing the directions of the Party and State leaders, the working group on citizen protection of relevant units of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has coordinated with Vietnamese representative agencies in Ukraine and neighboring countries to carry out activities to support the evacuation of Vietnamese in Ukraine from the war zone.

According to representative agencies, as of the end of March 2 Vietnam time, most Vietnamese people in Kiev and Odessa, and hundreds of people in Kharkov had been evacuated to seek shelter in neighboring countries.

As many as 600 people are staying in Poland, 340 in Moldova, 120 in Romania, 30 in Slovakia and 30 in Hungary.

Vietnamese representative agencies have given support for procedures and papers for people to enter and transit neighboring countries; and have coordinated with local authorities and local Vietnamese associations to arrange temporary accommodations for people.

Except for the people who have arrived in neighboring countries, the rest of the Vietnamese are waiting at border gates or are on the way.

According to Ha, the evacuation situation has been orderly, though there have been traffic jams and crowded trains. Vietnamese helped each other and went in groups with the support and guidance of the Vietnamese Embassy and unions. People are continuing to leave Ukraine.

Facing difficulties, the Vietnamese community and associations in Ukraine and neighboring countries have promoted the spirit of solidarity, mutual love and mutual support, together with representative agencies, to provide information, guidance, evacuations, accommodations and essential items, and stayed on duty at shelters to help Vietnamese from Ukraine.

“The spirit of solidarity, mutual love and mutual affection of our compatriots in Ukraine and other countries shows the precious tradition of the Vietnamese people. I would also like to express my appreciation to a number of organizations and individuals in the country who have contacted us make contributions to the assistance of Vietnamese people in Ukraine,” Ha said.

“With the solidarity of Vietnamese people, in Vietnam and overseas, I believe that Vietnamese in Ukraine will soon overcome the challenge,” he added.

As soon as hostilities occurred on February 24, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) focused on implementing measures to protect citizens and support the community. The Vietnamese Embassy in Ukraine regularly contacts and exchanges information with the Vietnamese community in Ukraine to understand the situation, and is ready 24/24 to give timely support.

On February 24, the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese sent a letter to the Vietnamese community and associations in Ukraine on official information channels to provide recommendations and give guidance to Vietnamese, reminding them to prepare necessities, find safe centers, and maintain contact with associations and agencies.

The committee has called on Vietnamese to promote the spirit of solidarity, mutual affection and mutual support to help each other in difficult circumstances. It has
mobilized the Vietnamese community, businesses and local Vietnamese associations to join forces with Vietnamese representative agencies in the work of protecting citizens and supporting the Vietnamese community in Ukraine.

Most associations have worked with representative agencies to draw up plans to give information, arrange accommodations and provide necessities to Vietnamese people from Ukraine. Associations have also sent people to cooperate with representative agencies.

The committee has established direct contact channels with some local associations in Ukraine and neighboring countries to update the situation of the Vietnamese community to help build plans on citizen evacuation and protection, and community support.

On March 1, the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese sent notices providing guidance and contact addresses of Vietnamese representative agencies and Vietnamese associations in neighboring countries so that Vietnamese in Ukraine, when evacuating to the countries, can easily contact the organizations for support. Associations have also joined forces with MOFA to learn about the demands of Vietnamese people so as to deploy reasonable measures.

Ha hopes that Vietnamese and local associations in Ukraine and neighboring countries continue to promote Vietnamese traditions and cooperate with Vietnamese agencies to support Vietnamese in Ukraine.

MOFA and overseas Vietnamese representative agencies have committed to make every effort to protect citizens and support the community to overcome difficulties. 

Tran Thuong

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