OVERSEAS VIETNAMESE AFFAIRS
Should the need arise, approximately 250 individuals from the Vietnamese community residing, working, and studying in Israel, including nearly 200 trainees and laborers, would require evacuation from the conflict zone.
On November 6, the Vietnamese Embassy in Israel set up a working group to assess the on-ground situation, aimed at facilitating the evacuation of Vietnamese citizens in the region should the conflict escalate.
The Allenby Bridge Border Gate between Israel and Jordan.
The working group researched travel routes, car rental or vehicle mobilization options, accommodations, and relevant immigration procedures to assist Vietnamese citizens in their potential movement by road to the Jordanian border. From there, individuals can make onward journeys to Vietnam or a third country.
This is just one among several proposed options in the event of a significant escalation of hostilities. The findings indicate that traveling from locations within Israel to the Jordanian border, while more complex than usual, remains a viable and relatively safe alternative in case Israeli airports are closed due to conflict.
Ambassador of Vietnam to Israel Ly Duc Trung stated, "Currently, the Vietnamese community in Israel remains secure, as the areas of concern are predominantly in the southern border vicinity near the Gaza Strip and the northern border adjacent to Lebanon. Nonetheless, it is imperative to proactively devise contingency plans, while the situation is still manageable so that if the need arises, they can be swiftly executed with clear criteria. The Embassy is fully committed to ensuring the safety of Vietnamese citizens."
Furthermore, Ambassador Ly Duc Trung emphasized that the Embassy has been proactive in formulating preparation plans right from the outset, ready to be deployed promptly when necessary.
Continuous coordination with relevant authorities both at home and abroad is in place to minimize any potential harm, he noted.
Simultaneously, the Embassy intends to issue recommendations promptly to Vietnamese citizens and their families, advising them to steer clear of conflict zones and to have a strategy for the swift and secure evacuation of individuals and assets to either a third country or back to Vietnam.
Based on an initial survey, in the event of an emergency, approximately 250 individuals from the Vietnamese community in Israel, who are either residents, employees, or students, expressed their desire to leave the conflict-affected area. This group includes nearly 200 agricultural trainees and students.
Members of the overseas Vietnamese community and the trainees mentioned that they feel more assured and confident when the Embassy maintains regular communication with community contacts, provides updates on the situation, and offers guidance and assistance in formulating protection plans tailored to individual preferences and real-life circumstances.
Ngoc Mai