Passengers are waiting for their flights at Suvarnabhumi airport in Bangkok, Thailand. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnamese representativeagencies in foreign countries are closely coordinating with internationalairlines and local authorities to ensure health care as well as essentialsupplies for Vietnamese stranded at international airports abroad, spokeswomanof the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry Le Thi Thu Hang said.
Speaking at the ministry’s regular pressconference in Hanoi on March 26, Hang said the representative agencies havealso helped the stranded passengers seek temporary shelters and suitableflights to Vietnam.
According to the spokeswoman, from March21-25, the ministry requested the representative agencies to join hands with authoritiesboth at home and abroad to assist about 800 Vietnamese citizens to fly homesafely.
But there are still around 40 Vietnamesecitizens stuck at international airports in foreign countries, she added.
The complex developments of the COVID-19pandemic have forced many countries and territories to restrict or stopinternational flights, leaving a large number of Vietnamese citizens strandedat their airports.
Therefore, the foreign ministry hascontinuously updated Vietnamese abroad on relevant information and warned themagainst travelling, especially trips to different countries and Vietnam.
Overseas Vietnamese have also beenadvised to observe precautionary measures set by their host countries, keepthemselves updated on regulations of the countries and airlines, and preparenecessary papers for flights, particularly health certificates, she said.
Those who lack essential papers or aresubject to changed regulations of foreign countries and territories, andairlines may get stuck at international flights abroad. Hang said.
The foreign ministry has asked therepresentative agencies to partner with competent agencies, internationalairports and airlines in foreign countries to popularise Vietnam’s entry policythat allows Vietnamese citizens to return home without any certificates by therepresentative agencies, the spokeswoman stressed.
In case of emergency, it is recommendedto contact citizen protection hotlines posted on the websites of the ConsularDepartment under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Vietnamese representativeagencies abroad, or the citizen protection hotline, Hang added.
Also at the press conference, she said no COVID-19 infections have been recorded among staff at Vietnamese representative agencies abroad so far./.
VNA
