The National flag carrier, Vietnam Airlines (VA) said its Boeing 777 VN6568 flight carrying 318 Vietnamese workers evacuated from Libya landed at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi at 11pm on March 1.

The aircraft departed from Noi Bai International Airport earlier the same day, transporting a working delegation of Government and relevant ministries and agencies to Egypt, to accelerate the evacuation of Vietnamese workers from unrest-ravaged Libya.

Phung Duc Luong from Cau Thai village, Ba Vi, Hanoi, who was the first person stepping off the plane was received by Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, Pham Thi Kim Ngan. He said “I am very happy and lucky to get home safely. The Government and relevant agencies had made a great effort to evacuate us from unrest-ravaged areas.”

In the same mood, Dang Van Huan from Nghi Loc, Nghe An province said “I feel extremely happy to be back home. I no longer have to listen to the sound of bombing. I am very grateful to the Government and relevant agencies for having created the best conditions for us to return home safely. Even though there are no relatives on hand I really enjoy seeing many well-wishers at the airport.”

After welcoming workers back from Libya, Minister Ngan told reporters at the airport that the Party, State and relevant ministries and departments will do all they can to bring back Vietnamese workers from Libya. She said, “Currently some working groups are now in Turkey, Malta and Greece to take care of many workers still stranded there. More workers will be arranged to fly back home from Tunisia on March 3.”

By 11pm on March 1, nearly 1,680 workers had returned home, including 477 people who landed at Noi Bai International Airport on March 1.

Excerpts from a VOV reporter's interview wih Minister Ngan at Noi Bai International Airport:

VOV: What is the ministry’s plan to support the evacuation of workers from Libya?

Minister Ngan: We will arrange for more flights to take them out of Libya. We have worked with partners and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) to support workers at the common borders of Egypt, Libya and Tunisia. We also plan to use charter flights to evacuate Vietnamese workers from Libya. Through international organizations and the Vietnamese Embassy in Egypt we have provided food for workers stranded there.

Around 1,000 workers have arrived in Turkey. We are very worried about 1,000 others gathering at the border with Tunisia who are running short of food and drinks. We know that international organizations have sent 80 tonnes of food and medicine and set up camps for evacuees over there. We will do our utmost to bring our workers out of the unrest-ravaged areas.

VOV: How will the Ministry of Social, Invalids and Social Affairs assist workers coming back home from Libya?

Minister Ngan: We will bear their travel costs to help them reunite with their families. In addition to support from the Government and labour export companies, the Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam will offer VND3 billion and Cienco 5 will donate VND5 billion.

I have directed relevant agencies to open a bank account to receive donations. The sum will help workers stabilise their lives. We have also directed banks not to demand payment of workers’ loans and asked all relevant agencies to offer suitable jobs for them.

VOV: Thank you very much!