Ending the conflict, restoring peace to civilians in war zones
This is the heartfelt wish of the Vietnamese community in Israel amid the escalating tensions between Israel and Iran over the past 12 days.
Living in Ramat Gan City, Israel, Nguyen Thi Thuy’s family has been heavily affected by the destructive power of air raids. During the days of escalating conflict with successive retaliatory airstrikes, her family lived in fear and anxiety. The whole family had to take refuge in bomb shelters whenever warnings and alarms sounded.
In a recent airstrike, Thuy's house was severely damaged and is now undergoing urgent repairs. After returning from the shelter, the house was completely devastated by the blast from a bomb that fell 100 meters away. Fortunately, a neighbouring Israeli family lent her a nearby apartment to stay in, which is convenient for overseeing the repairs.
“The support and help from Israeli people deeply moved and grateful to me,” Thuy emotionally recounted.
As the war escalated and the Israeli Government declared a state of emergency, Thuy and many other Vietnamese residents in Israel had to take time off from work, and children were forced to suspend their studies. These days have been extremely difficult for them, as they often faced the sounds of bombs and explosions and evacuations to avoid bombings.
Her greatest concern now is how to comfort and reassure her children to prevent psychological trauma, as they are too young to understand what is happening.
“I hope that the leaders of Israel and Iran will soon reach a long-term ceasefire agreement and restore peace so that the people of both countries can return to their peaceful lives as before,” Thuy expressed.
Among the 700 Vietnamese living, working, and studying in Israel, no casualties have been reported so far.
Similarly, Nguyen Thanh Long, a Vietnamese resident in Beit She’an Town, Israel, had to stop working during the tense conflict period to ensure safety.
Long shared that, during his time off, they regularly received support from their company. However, they were heavily psychologically affected by the escalating conflict with many retaliatory strikes between the two sides. People were often anxious due to continuous alarms and sirens. Especially at night, they had to evacuate and take shelter in bomb shelters two to three times.
“In these difficult and challenging periods of time, the Vietnamese community in Israel has always received great care and attention from the Vietnamese Embassy. The ambassador and embassy staff regularly keep in touch with the Vietnamese Association in Israel to grasp the specific situations. If one needs support, the embassy will coordinate with the Vietnamese Association in Israel and local authorities to provide timely and effective assistance," Nguyen Thanh Long said.
According to Shurany Hong (Truong Thi Hong), Chairwoman of the Vietnamese Association in Israel, reported that among the 700 Vietnamese living, working, and studying in Israel, no casualties have been reported so far.
During the 12 days of intense conflict, the embassy has always stood side by side with the overseas Vietnamese community, maintaining contact to monitor the situation and continuously encouraging everyone to overcome this difficult period together.
The embassy issued early and timely warnings and recommendations for the community to strictly follow the guidance of local authorities on safe sheltering. The embassy also encouraged Vietnamese citizens to leave Israel or evacuate to third countries to ensure safety as the conflict escalated in recent days.
“During the conflict, besides community shelters and public temporary centres, local authorities also proactively arranged safe shelters for Israeli citizens and foreign residents, including the Vietnamese community, in hotels and apartments. For families affected by airstrikes, the Israeli Government has policies to provide adequate compensation to help people quickly stabilize their lives,” Hong added.
The embassy has always stood side by side with the overseas Vietnamese community, maintaining contact to monitor the situation and continuously encouraging everyone to overcome this difficult period together.
Urgent evacuation of Vietnamese citizens from dangerous areas to third countries and return home
Regarding the recent Middle East conflict, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has closely coordinated with relevant domestic agencies to direct Vietnamese diplomatic missions in Israel, Iran, and neighbouring regions to implement emergency response plans, urgently evacuating Vietnamese citizens from dangerous areas to third countries and back to Viet Nam. Evacuation costs are covered by the state budget.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung said that following instructions from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and domestic agencies, the Vietnamese Embassy in Israel coordinated closely with the Vietnamese Embassy in Egypt to safely bring nearly 50 Vietnamese citizens into Egypt, some of whom have already returned to Viet Nam. The remaining citizens are completing necessary procedures to return home as soon as possible.
Earlier, upon receiving information about Vietnamese citizens trapped in conflict zones, the Vietnamese Embassy in Israel actively cooperated with domestic and local authorities and the Vietnamese Embassy in Egypt to take necessary protective measures to ensure the safety and security of Vietnamese citizens in the area and assist with evacuation procedures from dangerous zones.
The Vietnamese Embassy in Israel will continue to follow the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' directives, closely coordinate with domestic and local agencies, and Vietnamese diplomat missions in neighbouring areas to monitor the situation, be ready to ensure security and safety for citizens and the embassy's premises, and plan evacuation to safe areas in the near future.
