According to a VNA correspondent in Tel Aviv, there are currently about 100 Vietnamese trainees studying at Israel 's international agricultural training center called Agrostudies. The 15 people mentioned above are living near the town of Sredot, an area at high risk due to the conflict between the Islamic Hamas Movement and Israel.
Palestinians flee their homes in the Gaza Strip on October 9, 2023, after the conflict between Hamas and Israel escalated. Photo: AFP/TTXVN
The rest are living and studying in other localities across Israel. With the support of the Embassy and the Vietnamese community, the trainees have been divided into small groups and moved to Malakhi City, about 40 km from the Gaza Strip, to ensure safety in the coming days.
"The Embassy has reviewed the situation of the community, trainees, pupils and students in all localities in Israel. For the group of trainees near the Gaza Strip at high risk, the Embassy has contacted and asked the Agrostudies Center to move them to a safer location" - Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung said.
In the face of the continuing tense and unpredictable conflict situation, with even the beginning of unstable security developments in the northern region of Israel, on October 11, the Vietnamese Embassy in Israel issued a notice recommending that the Vietnamese community there remain calm; strictly comply with the regulations and instructions of the local government and competent agencies on ensuring security and safety; and maintain regular contact with the Embassy, especially in emergency situations.
At the same time, those who really want to return to Vietnam or move to a third country need to be proactive and quickly find commercial flights with the most suitable time. Currently, Ben Gurion International Airport is still operating, many major airlines still maintain flights to and from Israel, although with reduced frequency.
There are currently about 180 Vietnamese students studying under the agricultural trainee program at Israeli centers. This number is much lower than in previous years.
There are four major international agricultural training centers that regularly cooperate to receive Vietnamese students: Agrostudies in the North, Sderod Negev in the Central-South, Ramat Negev and AICAT in the South. However, this year, the Sderot Negev center (located right next to the Gaza Strip border) has no Vietnamese students studying.
It is estimated that the Vietnamese community in Israel consists of about 500 people, living and working in most major cities in this Middle Eastern country.
On October 12, Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung sent a letter inquiring about the health and safety of the Vietnamese community living, working and studying in Israel, and called for the establishment of working groups to support each other in the context of war and conflict.
Working groups are established corresponding to each area where households, students, trainees and workers are residing. The focal point of each working group is notified to the Embassy's Emergency Response Steering Committee for timely coordination, exchange, update information, as well as provide specific instructions when necessary.
Vietnamese citizens in need of assistance can contact the Vietnamese Embassy in Israel at 972-50-818-6116 and +972-52-727-4248, +972-50-994-0889 or the Citizen Protection Hotline of the Consular Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs at +84 981 84 84 84.
Responding to a reporter's question about Vietnam's reaction to the escalating conflict between Hamas and Israel, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Pham Thu Hang stated that Vietnam is closely following and is deeply concerned about the escalating violence between Hamas and Israel, causing many civilian casualties.
"We call on relevant parties to exercise restraint, not take actions that complicate the situation, and soon resume negotiations to resolve disagreements through peaceful measures, on the basis of international law and relevant resolutions of the United Nations Security Council, ensuring the safety and legitimate interests of civilians," said Ms. Pham Thu Hang.
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