Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Pham Thu Hang stated at a press conference on 19/3 that most Vietnamese citizens traveling, in temporary transit, or whose flights were cancelled due to closed airspace have either returned to Vietnam or taken subsequent flights out of the Middle East.
Vietnamese representative agencies are also coordinating with local officials to update the situation and prepare support measures, ensuring the security and safety of Vietnamese ships and crew members operating in the Middle East who are currently unable to leave the Strait of Hormuz.
The Vietnamese Embassies in Israel, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Qatar have launched online registration to gather the preferences of citizens wishing to return home or travel to a third country, aiming to develop appropriate support plans.
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Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Pham Thu Hang. Photo: MFA |
Ms. Hang stated that Saudi Arabia has agreed to issue free transit visas for Vietnamese citizens at border checkpoints and through its representative agencies in the region.
Saudi Arabian port authorities have contacted Vietnamese ships and crew representatives stranded at the country's port to assess the situation and provide necessary assistance.
The Vietnamese Embassy in the UAE has also worked with the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and UAE airlines to request support and facilitate the transfer of over 200 Vietnamese tourist citizens stranded at major airports and transiting in the UAE to a third country. The Embassy has also accommodated many Vietnamese citizens and provided essential supplies while they await departure from Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
The spokesperson advised Vietnamese citizens in Iran, Israel, and neighboring countries to regularly monitor information from local authorities and warnings from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Vietnamese representative agencies abroad.
In emergencies or difficulties, Vietnamese citizens can immediately contact the 24/7 citizen protection hotlines of Vietnamese representative agencies in Iran, Israel, and nearby areas, or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Citizen Protection Call Center for urgent assistance.
> Citizen protection hotlines at Vietnamese representative agencies in the Middle East
Responding to a reporter's question regarding recent social media information and images purportedly showing Vietnam providing humanitarian aid to Iran, the spokesperson affirmed this as "incorrect information".
The conflict in the Middle East between the US-Israel and Iran erupted on 28/2, resulting in over 2,000 deaths and disrupting travel and maritime transport in the region. The parties continue to exchange attacks with no signs of de-escalation for negotiations.
Ngoc Anh
