The medals were presented by Lieutenant Colonel Raúl Serrano Chacón of the Presidential Guard Command to the Vietnamese rescue workers on the morning of July 6, local time.
The Hero of Venezuela Medal is one of Venezuela’s highest honours, awarded in recognition of the courage, dedication, and heroism demonstrated by the Vietnamese rescue team, whose members risked their lives and overcame immense challenges to provide emergency assistance and humanitarian aid to people in the areas affected by the devastating earthquake, which struck on June 24.
Despite entering their sixth day of field operations and working under immense pressure in severely contaminated, rubble-strewn conditions, the Vietnamese rescue and relief team has remained steadfast and highly determined.
Dividing into several units and racing against time, the team has recovered the bodies of 57 victims while also helping local residents retrieve and return numerous personal belongings.
In addition to search and recovery operations, the Vietnamese team has coordinated visits to approximately 500 families who lost their homes and are facing particularly difficult circumstances.
The team promptly delivered essential relief supplies to disaster-hit communities, including more than 360 kilograms of canned meat, 100 cartons of milk, nearly 50 cartons of instant noodles, and large quantities of blankets, bedding, and protective clothing.
The timely arrival of the Vietnamese contingent, together with its strong sense of responsibility and practical contributions, has strengthened the resolve of local communities as they endure this difficult period.
Its efforts have also deepened the traditional friendship and solidarity between Viet Nam and Venezuela.
Earlier, on July 3, Venezuelan Acting President Delcy Rodríguez conveyed a letter of appreciation and presented the Hero of Venezuela Medal to General Secretary and President To Lam via Vietnamese Ambassador to Venezuela Vu Trung My.
