Vietnamese Embassy in Israel activates 24-hour citizen protection mechanism

Charge d’Affaires of the Vietnamese Embassy in Israel Nghiem Xuan Hai Dang said on Monday that immediately after the conflict broke out, Israel activated its highest-level national defense and home front management mechanisms.

The Israeli government declared a nationwide state of emergency and implemented an ‘essential operations’ regime.

The Middle East conflict escalated on Saturday last week after the U.S. and Israel carried out preemptive strikes on multiple targets in Iran.

Tehran later responded with attacks on Israeli territory and missile launches targeting dozens of U.S. bases in Gulf countries, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman, resulting in casualties and property damage.

Dang said Israel has shifted into a ‘wartime rhythm’ while continuing to maintain order and essential services.

Although daily life has been disrupted by frequent air raid sirens and movement restrictions, there have been no outages of electricity, water, or Internet services and no shortages of food or essential goods, with supermarkets and major stores continuing to operate, he noted.

Israel’s airspace, including Ben Gurion International Airport, has been closed, with many international flights suspended or canceled.

Dang said that since the outbreak of hostilities, the embassy has prioritized monitoring the Vietnamese community and implementing citizen protection measures while safeguarding its staff and their families.

The mission activated its emergency response mechanism, maintained round-the-clock duty operations, and provided regular updates and safety advisories through official channels.

The embassy has not recorded any casualties among Vietnamese nationals in Israel following recent missile attacks.

Most of them reside in northern and central Israel.

Despite growing concern, they have complied strictly with safety guidance, limited travel, stayed close to shelters, and sought refuge immediately when warning sirens sound.

On the same day, Vietnamese ambassadors in Gulf countries also reported no casualties or property damage involving Vietnamese nationals linked to the regional tensions.

The Vietnamese Embassy in the UAE said the Vietnamese community there numbers more than 4,000 people.

Currently, 84 Vietnamese passengers and six Vietnamese crew members are stranded in the UAE and have contacted the embassy for support.

The embassy continues to monitor developments, maintain communication channels, provide updates and early warnings through social media platforms and messaging applications, and urge citizens to prepare for potential emergency scenarios.

Contingency plans for protection and evacuation have been further updated, while security at the embassy’s headquarters has been reinforced.

The Embassy of Vietnam in Qatar said around 500 Vietnamese citizens are living there.

The mission has coordinated with the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant local authorities to monitor developments, maintain contact with the community, and encourage citizens to register and update their personal information to facilitate protection measures and possible evacuation if necessary.

Protection and evacuation plans have also been refined.

According to the Vietnamese Embassy in Saudi Arabia, which is also responsible for Bahrain and Oman, about 6,000 Vietnamese nationals are residing and working in these countries.

The mission said it is closely tracking developments and stands ready to implement citizen protection measures under all circumstances, urging nationals to comply with local laws and official guidance, limit non-essential travel, and proactively ensure the safety of themselves and their families.

The Embassy of Vietnam in Kuwait reported that nearly 200 Vietnamese citizens are living and working in the country.

As of 4:00 pm on March 2 (local time), no casualties or property damage among Vietnamese nationals in Kuwait had been recorded, the embassy said.

The Vietnamese embassies in Israel, Kuwait, and the UAE can be reached via citizen protection hotlines at +972555025616 or +972508783373, at +96599758155 or +96525311450, and at +971501299789, respectively.

Meanwhile, the Vietnamese embassies in Qatar and Saudi Arabia can be contacted at +97477088920 or via email at vietnamembassy.doha@gmail.com, and at +966114547887 or +966595731500, or via email at vnemb.sa@mofa.gov.vn, respectively.