Foreign Ministry’s spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Foreign Ministry’s spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang said over thepast time, the Foreign Ministry has worked with Vietnamese representativeagencies abroad, and domestic and foreign agencies to help nearly 1,500 Vietnamese citizensreturn home safely.
She revealed the information whileanswering reporters’ queries about help for Vietnamese abroad, includingstudents and workers, to return home, at a regular press conference in Hanoi onApril 9.
The spokesperson noted that several Vietnamese citizens are still stranded atinternational airports due to changes in entry-exit and transit policies ofcountries and territories; as well as due to cancellation and adjustment of flight schedules of airlines to respond to the COVID-19. In addition, a number of Vietnamesecitizens are meeting visa difficulties because they are unable to find flights backto Vietnam.
According to her, Vietnamese representative agencies have been working closelywith international carriers and authorities of the host countries to tackledifficulties about visas, ensure medical care and supply of necessities forVietnamese citizens, as well as help with the search and arrangement ofsuitable flights to Vietnam for them.
However,she noted that it is impossible for the agencies to remove all difficulties inall cases to help citizens return home.
In the time ahead, under the direction of the Prime Minister, Vietnameserepresentative agencies abroad will suggest plans to bring a number of citizenshome, with priority given to the elderly, the sick and children below 18, whiletaking into account the capacity of domestic quarantine facilities, shesaid.
For a small number of Vietnamese lacking personal papers and legal labourcontracts, the representative agencies will conduct legal procedures with relevant agencies ofboth Vietnam and the host countries to verify their identity, and work out suitablesolutions, Hang said.
About support for foreign representative agencies in Vietnam to send theircitizens home, Hang said Vietnam always creates favourable conditions forforeign representative agencies to conduct citizen protection, and forforeigners meeting with difficulties during travelling to return to their homeland. Vietnam has coordinated with foreign representativeagencies in Vietnam to organize some flights to send citizens of some Europeancountries home. In the time ahead, Vietnam will continue to create favourableconditions for foreign citizens to go back to their home countries inaccordance with Vietnam’s regulations and epidemic prevention requirements.
Askedwhen foreign representative agencies and businesses could resume normaloperation, Hang said amid the complicated developments of COVID-19, theVietnamese Government has adopted temporary measures, including physicaldistancing, to prevent its spread in the community.
Vietnam will continuemonitoring the situation and make adjustments that suit realities, she said./.
