VietNamNet Bridge – The government has drawn up evacuation and security plans for Vietnamese citizens from Libya as unrest continues there, said Vietnamese Ambassador to Libya Dao Duy Tien.

113 out of 206 workers recruited by Turkish groups have been safely transported to Vietnam

Eleven officials and staff of the Vietnamese Embassy in Libya and their relatives have been safely returned to the homeland while another 113 out of 206 workers recruited by Turkish groups have been safely transported to Vietnam.

Currently, there are some 1,550 Vietnamese citizens, including one university student, who are living and working in cities like Tripoli, Misrata, Sirte, Qubbah and Ajdabya.

Out of the total, roughly 220 labourers are in the hotspots of the armed conflict and political unrest of Tripoli (over 180) and Benghazi (40) where the turmoil is escalating.

Most of the labourers in other areas are still going to work as usual, however, their lives have suffered a negative impact due to interruptions in utility services, such as electricity and water supplies and food shortages. In some places, wood is used for cooking because other fuels are unavailable.

Living conditions of those in areas, where fighting has not broken out, are still considered reasonably safe, but evacuation procedures are in place that will go into effect immediately should the situation take a turn for the worse, Tien said.

In the context of the complicated political situation and unsafe security, especially in Benghazi and Tripoli, the Vietnamese Embassy is implementing emergency plans to evacuate all members of the Vietnamese community.

The embassy is keeping in close contact with representatives of workers in cities to stay on top of the situation and keep workers updated with the latest developments.

The embassy is closely communicating with employers to ensure the safety of workers and that in the event foreign employers withdraw from Libya, employees are not left stranded but are evacuated out of Libya and returned to the homeland.

Procedures have also been implemented directing domestic companies to stay in communication with employers in Libya and that no additional workers are sent to the area this time, Tien warned.

Around 800 Vietnamese labourers who are working for the Republic of Korean companies are en route to the homeland via Cairo and are scheduled to fly home on August 2.

Workers had dinner at Ramada Hotel in Turkey before flying home

The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) on July 29 held an urgent meeting with labour export companies to address emergency evacuation and safety issues concerning Vietnamese labourers.

At a July monthly cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung asked relevant ministries and departments to use their best efforts to ensure safety for Vietnamese citizens in Libya.

Vietnam Manpower Supply and Commercial Company (Vinamex) reports its 762 labourers working on an electric-power plant project for RoK Hyundai Group are continuing to work as normal, but contingency plans are in place for evacuation if needed.

Sona Company which employs 300 Vietnamese workers in Libya also reports it is keeping in regular contact with its representative in the country and is prepared to evacuate its workers in the event that the situation deteriorates.

First 113 Vietnamese workers have received immediate assistance from the Vietnamese embassy in Turkey and Turkish companies to fly home safely from fierce clashes in Libya.

First Vietnamese workers on the way home from Turkey

They are among 206 Vietnamese workers hired by Turkish companies to work in Libya. When violence erupted, especially in Tripoli and Benghazi cities, the Vietnamese embassy in Turkey worked with these companies to bring the workers to Vietnam.

A Turkish company assisted the 206 workers in moving to Istanbul from which 113 had already taken plane to Vietnam. The remainder will be brought to their homes in a couple of days.

A working group of the Vietnamese embassy led by ambassador Nguyen The Cuong landed at Istanbul airport to meet the remaining 93 workers, providing them with necessary assistance.

“We have sent a note to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in Ankara and Istanbul. We are working with IOM Office in Istanbul to inquire into the status of other groups of Vietnamese workers in Libya,” said ambassador Cuong in an interview with VOV on July 31.

Nguyen Ngoc Quynh, head of the Department of Overseas Labour (DOLAB) under the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, said there are 1,750 Vietnamese workers in Libya.

Except for 206 workers returning to Vietnam, the remainder are working outside the violence area.  

VOV/VNA