The Transport Ministry is assigned to instruct Vietnamese airlines to put in place plans to transport Vietnamese citizens and their families to Vietnam. Photo: VGP

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has signed official dispatch 201/CD-TTg dated February 26, 2022 on the protection of Vietnamese citizens and legal entities in Ukraine.

The dispatch was sent to ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies and agencies under the Government, and Chairpersons of People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities, Nhan dan (People) newspaper reported.

It says since February 24, the armed conflict in Ukraine has spread in a fast and complicated manner, directly threatening the life safety and assets of people and businesses, including that of around 7,000 Vietnamese living in Ukraine, mainly in Kharkiv, Odesa and Kyiv.

In such a situation, one of the top concerns of the Party, State, Government and Prime Minister is to ensure the highest security and safety of lives, assets and legitimate interests of Vietnamese citizens and legal entities in Ukraine and related areas, the document says.

In the dispatch, the PM asked the Foreign Ministry to build plans to ensure security and safety and evacuate citizens and members of representative missions when necessary, while providing support for them in terms of accommodation, food and other necessities.

The ministry is also tasked with instructing Vietnamese representative missions in Ukraine and adjacent countries to make lists of Vietnamese citizens in conflict areas and take measures to quickly take them out of dangerous areas and take shelter in neighbouring countries when necessary. The ministry should also have plans ready to bring those people back to Vietnam in case they want to.

A supermarket in Ukraine. Photo: Thanh nien [Young People)

The Foreign Ministry should also ask regional countries and international and humanitarian organisations to provide help to Vietnamese citizens when necessary.

The Transport Ministry is assigned to instruct Vietnamese airlines to put in place plans to transport Vietnamese citizens and their families to Vietnam.

The Ministry of Education and Training, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, and related ministries and sectors are required to take stock of Vietnamese people working and studying in Ukraine and inform the Foreign Ministry to serve the provision of assistance and evacuation to them.

The Ministry of Public Security should create favourable conditions in the granting of immigration documents to Vietnamese citizens, people of Vietnamese origin and their family members.

The Ministries of Planning and Investment; Industry and Trade; Finance; Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, the State Bank of Vietnam and relevant agencies are required to closely follow the situation in Ukraine and work with relevant partners to seek suitable measures to ensure Vietnam’s national interest and the legitimate interests of Vietnamese citizens and businesses.

The Finance Ministry should coordinate with the Foreign Ministry and other ministries and agencies to allocate funding for the implementation of citizen protection measures.

The Ministry of Information and Communication and the media are assigned to provide timely and objective information on the situation in Ukraine.

Chairpersons of provinces and centrally-run cities should coordinate with ministries and agencies in protecting citizens and interests related to their localities.

The PM urged the Vietnamese community, Vietnamese businesses and Vietnamese associations in Ukraine and adjacent countries to uphold the tradition of solidarity, self-reliance and mutual help, thus helping each other to overcome difficulties and mitigate losses.

Aviation authority issues urgent notice

Photo: VNA

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has sent an official document to Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, Bamboo Airways, and Pacific Airlines, on the restriction and closure of airspace and airports in Russia and Ukraine in connection with the Russia-Ukraine tension, Viet Nam News said.

The document stated that the CAAV received a letter dated February 24, 2022 from the European and North Atlantic (EUR/NAT) Office of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) regarding the closure of the airspace over Moldova, Ukraine and part of the flight information region (FIR) of Russia.

Ukrainian authorities announced the closure of the airspace within the FIRs Dnipro (UKDV) Simferopol (UKFV), Lviv (UKLV), Odesa (UKOV) and Kyiv (UKBV). Meanwhile, Russian authorities also announced the closure of a part of the airspace within the Rostov (URRV) FIR. Moldova's airspace is also closed.

The ICAO said it would continue to coordinate with relevant authorities and other countries in the region to keep a close watch on next developments, especially those that may affect flight safety.

Director of CAAV Dinh Viet Thang said that Russia and Ukraine had released telegrams announcing the closure of airports, the restriction and closure of some airspace and air routes, especially in the area adjacent to the northeast of Ukraine, citing a report from the Vietnam Air Traffic Management Corporation (VATM).

To ensure absolute safety for flight operations to, from and over the territory of Russia, Ukraine and Moldova, the CAAV had requested the airlines to examine carefully the ICAO's letter, keep updated on aviation notices on the restriction/closure of airspace, the closure of airports and air routes of Russia, Ukraine and other related countries.

The airlines also needed to review flight routes, and choose alternative routes (if necessary) based on their operation plans; and ensure that their flights avoid closed and restricted areas and airways.

They should not choose alternate airports being those which had been announced to be closed, and those located near the affected airspace, Thang noted.

According to the CAAV, Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air and Bamboo Airways operate regular international flights from Vietnam to/ from 15 countries and territories, namely Cambodia, Hong Kong (China), Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan (China), Thailand, Laos, France, Germany, UK, Australia, Russia and the US. In which, the national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines is running 24 passenger and cargo flights per week to/from Europe (Russia, France, Germany, and the UK).

Vietnam raises great concern over armed conflict in Ukraine

Ukrainians flee the war. Photo: AP

Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang said on February 25 that Vietnam is concerned about the armed conflict in Ukraine and is paying special attention to the situation of the Vietnamese community in the country, according to VietnamPlus.

Hang made the statement when answering questions from Vietnamese and foreign reporters about Vietnam's reaction to recent tense developments in Ukraine and the protection of its citizens.

She called on relevant parties to exercise restraint, abide by the United Nations Charter and basic principles of international law, not to use force, protect people, and continue dialogue to seek peaceful solutions, thus contributing to ensuring peace, security, stability and cooperation in the region and the world.

Vietnam requests that the safety of lives, property as well as legal rights and interests of Vietnamese citizens and businesses in Ukraine be ensured, she stressed.

The spokesperson informed that Vietnamese representative offices in Ukraine and domestic authorities are closely coordinating and ready to carry out citizen protection plans.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has asked Vietnamese people to keep calm and strictly follow notifications and guidance of local authorities.

It also recommended Vietnamese expats to keep in touch with Vietnamese associations and friends and help one another./.

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