Recently with the situation in Ukraine becoming tense, the number of people fleeing to Poland increased, including many Vietnamese citizens.

Chairman of the Vietnamese Association in Poland Tran Anh Tuan said that the whole community agreed and joined hands to prepare options to help Vietnamese people in Ukraine to flee.

Supporting and helping Vietnamese people from Ukraine to Poland

Tran Anh Tuan said: "On the first day the Russian-Ukrainian conflict officially broke out, we held an urgent meeting to find ways to help Vietnamese. After the meeting, the policy was immediately informed to the members of the Association and organizations in Ukraine."

"Facing with the tense military situation, in the following day, the Vietnamese Embassy in Poland also held a joint meeting with the Vietnamese community to discuss how to coordinate in providing assistance to people in Ukraine.

"We have come up with a number of plans to coordinate with the Embassy and overseas Vietnamese. In the immediate future, we will make a list of Vietnamese people traveling from Ukraine to Poland and send it to the Embassy. The association will also notify the local authorities, then they can also receive help from the Government."

President of the Vietnamese Association in Poland Tran Anh Tuan (3rd from the left) and leaders and members of the meeting discuss support for Vietnamese people in Ukraine to flee the war. Photo: NVCC

The Polish government has also decided to open the border to be able to welcome 1.5 million refugees from Ukraine to Poland.

Given the possibility that a large number of Vietnamese people will flee to Vietnam, the Association has taken into account the immediate difficulties.

Chairman of the Vietnamese Association said: "Initially, we thought that if the war happened only briefly, the number of Vietnamese coming here would probably be small and not overcrowded. However, with the war situation still tense, the number of Vietnamese people who may go to Poland is high."

"We have a plan to ensure conditions to help about 80-100 people. If the number is larger, we have other backup plans, such as arranging the initial reception at some community temples such as Nhan Hoa pagoda, and Thien Phuc pagoda (these places can take in about 30- 40 people), and some living rooms of Vietnamese commercial centers in Poland.

"Then, we will classify each family by groups of people and the number of people, to move to a suitable place."

The Association, along with the Vietnamese Embassy in Poland, met to coordinate support for Vietnamese people in Ukraine. Photo: NVCC

The Chairman added: "Another convenient option is that we call for direct support from our countrymen's councils and clubs in Poland.

"Currently, the Association has many compatriots such as Thanh Hoa, Nghe Tinh, Nam Dinh, and clubs such as the Ha Thanh Club and Veterans Club, etc. Everyone is ready to help their community.

"After hearing the Association's announcement, many individuals said that they can welcome two or three people at their homes.

"In this situation, compatriotism is precious and sharing in the face of difficulties and tribulations is a tradition of overseas Vietnamese. Many plans to welcome people have been prepared by the Association."

Vietnamese taking refuge in Poland

"The first Vietnamese group to contact us had about 40 people still on their way to Poland. They said that next, there will be other groups traveling in small groups, mainly on foot or by car," Chairman Tran Anh Tuan said.

"Recently, I received news that Vietnamese people are on their way to Poland for two days but have not arrived because of traffic jams, lack of vehicles or fuel, etc.

"We are also trying to find a way to connect with Vietnamese associations in other countries such as Romania, Hungary, and so on to coordinate and assist people who have fled."

The Polish government decided to open the border to welcome 1.5 million refugees from Ukraine to Poland. Photo: Reuters

Coordinating to help Ukrainian refugees

Tran Anh Tuan said: "The authorities in Poland have called for organizations and individuals to help Ukrainians to flee."

As a strong community in Poland, our second policy is to cooperate with local authorities to join hands to provide material and essential tools for Ukrainian refugees at refugee reception sites.

"When Vietnamese people take refuge with the help of their community, it will also reduce pressure on the Government."

A large number of people fled from Ukraine to Poland. Photo: VNA

Implementing the policy of Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Embassy has urgently focused on promoting the work of protecting our citizens displaced from Ukraine to Poland.

The Embassy always works closely with the local authorities and the Vietnamese Association in Poland in an effective way.

The Embassy diligently worked and requested the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Border Guard Service, and Committee on Foreigners of Poland to support Vietnamese citizens with and without legal documents to enter the country, transit and arrange a temporary stay, guaranteed accommodation and necessities for 15 days as prescribed for third-country citizens.

There were also meetings between the Vietnamese Embassy in Poland and community organizations, agreeing to establish a group called "Helping people in Ukraine" and exchanging information regularly.

Many groups of citizens had to wait a long time to complete evacuation procedures from Ukraine to Poland. Photo: Vietnamese Embassy in Poland

Since the situation in Ukraine became complicated, the Embassy staff have not hesitated to work hard, being on duty 24/7 to handle related issues and support citizens who have difficulties during the evacuation.

As of noon on March 3, about 600 Vietnamese citizens had entered Poland.

On the night of March 2 and early morning of March 3, the delegation of the Embassy led by Ambassador Nguyen Hung went directly to two border crossings between Poland and Ukraine: Korczowa - KraKowets and Budomierz - Hruszow to welcome more than 100 citizens.

A large number of people along with a lot of citizens entering without legal papers prolonged the time for immigration procedures.

Groups of citizens had to wait for procedures from the early evening of March 2 to 9 a.m. March 3.

The delegation worked directly with the border guard agency. Photo: Vietnamese Embassy in Poland

The Embassy worked directly with border guards to create favorable conditions for people to enter Poland.

After that, more than 100 citizens boarded two cars prepared by the Embassy to a temporary shelter in Warsaw.

Ambassador Nguyen Hung met, encouraged, and shared difficulties with relatives, informed people of the state's policies in protecting our citizens from Ukraine to evacuate to third countries, and disseminated regulations of Polish authorities for evacuees who do not hold Ukrainian passports.

Ambassador Nguyen Hung led the delegation to welcome Vietnamese people from Ukraine to evacuate to Poland. Photo: Vietnamese Embassy in Poland

During the night, the delegation of the Embassy returned to Warsaw to coordinate with the Vietnamese Association to prepare accommodation conditions for the people.

The delegation visited Vietnam Buddhist Center (commonly known as Nhan Hoa Pagoda), a facility to receive and support citizens before citizens initially move to another accommodation facility.

Embassy staff helps people find means and accommodation in Warsaw. Photo: Vietnamese Embassy in Poland

Currently, the number of Vietnamese people moving to Poland from Ukraine has increased, and the Embassy, as well as the Vietnamese Association in Poland, have encountered many difficulties in finding people a place to stay.

In the coming days, the Embassy will continue to send officials to a number of border checkpoints between Ukraine and Polan to directly implement support measures.

The Ambassador expressed his deep gratitude to the Vietnamese community in Europe for always showing the spirit of mutual affection, and helping each other to overcome difficulties during the pandemic and the security crisis in Ukraine.

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