This was part of the instruction issued by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on March 16 regarding the protection of Vietnamese citizens after the powerful earthquake and massive tsunami attacked Japan five days ago. 

The PM urged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to closely coordinate with relevant ministries and agencies to keep a close watch on the situation and decide necessary response measures within its competence. 

The Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC), the Ministry of Science and Technology (MST), and the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Information and Education should keep a close watch on the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan and take effective measures to ensure safety for Vietnamese residents, he said. 

The Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute under the MST is required to provide timely, accurate and objective information on the nuclear problem and safety in Japan to the press. 

The MIC needs to create every favourable condition for Internet access in the current stage in order to help people promptly grasp information relating to the Japanese disaster, Mr. Dung said. 

According to the instruction, the Ministry of Health should be ready to send medical staff for rescue work in Japan and examine radioactivity contamination levels for Vietnamese citizens who return from Japan. 

The Ministry of Finance and Vietnam Red Cross (VRC) were asked to urgently transfer to the Japanese side a government donation of US$200,000 and money raised by Vietnamese people through a VRC appeal. 

**On the same day, President of the VRC Central Committee Tran Ngoc Tang officially called on all ministries, branches and agencies at all levels, mass organisations, economic groups and organisations, businesses and people nationwide to raise funds for the Japanese people in order to help them quickly overcome the aftermath of the national calamity and stabilise their lives. 

** Also on March 16, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Nguyen Phuong Nga said Vietnam’s representative agencies in Japan have actively taken a host of measures to protect Vietnamese citizens following the recent devastating earthquake.

“The Party and Government of Vietnam pay special attention to ensuring safety for Vietnamese citizens in Japan,” the spokeswoman said.

The Vietnamese Government has closely followed the situation and efforts of the Japanese Government in dealing with incidents at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant. Vietnamese scientists and concerned agencies are cooperating closely with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Japanese Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) to update the information, she said. 

Based on real developments and conditions, the Vietnamese Government will adopt proper, timely measures to ensure safety for Vietnamese citizens in Japan, Nga said.