Hanoi (VNA) – The⛄ Ministry of Foreign Affairs has advised Vietname🐻se citizens not to travel to places where conflictsare taking place, its spokeswoman Pham Thu Hang said at the ministry’sregular press conference in Hanoi on March 14.

Responding to reporters' question about citizenprotection in Haiti amid the worsening security situation in this Caribbean country, she cited information from theVietnamese Embassy in Cuba and Haiti as saying that the violence situation in Haiti is escalatingrapidly and becoming extremely complex, resulting in many casualties. In response to this situation, Hang said the embassy has adopted a number of citizen protection measures, including issuing safety guidelines on its official social media channels, assigning officials to be on round-the-clock duty to maintain regular contact with representatives of theVietnamese community in Haiti for continuous information updates, and collaborating with localauthorities and diplomatic missions in the area to take necessary citizenprotection measures. According to the spokeswoman, there are currently about 70-80 Vietnamese nationals in Haiti, who have been allreported safe. TheVietnamese citizens in the area were also advised to closely monitor thesituation, take proactive measures to ensure their own safety, strictly followthe local regulations, or promptly contact the embassy and the ministry’scitizen protection hotline if assistance is needed. Regarding the case of Vietnamese crewmembers working on the Barbados-flaggedship True Confidence which was attacked by Houthi forces in the Red Sea, Hangsaid the Vietnamese Embassy in Egypt and Djibouti has been closely working withlocal and domestic authorities, labourer dispatch company and the victim's family tourgently carry out post-incident procedures for the deceased and bring thevictim’s body back to Vietnam in line with his family's wish. She said that the ministry has also coordinated with Vietnamese representative agencies inrelevant countries to expedite consular procedures and facilitate theprompt return of the remaining three crewmembers to Vietnam. Extendingheartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased, she said the ministry hasbeen in discussions with domestic authorities and shipping companies employing Vietnamese labourers to ensure maximum safety for sailors and compliance withinternational warnings about dangerous and risky routes. It has directedrepresentative agencies in conflict areas to continue monitoring andupdating the security situation, and stay prepared to adopt citizen protectionmeasures when needed./.