The Vietnamese community in Slovakia greet their compatriots who have evacuated from Ukraine. — VNA/VNS Photo

PRAUGE — A committee has been established by the Embassy of Việt Nam and the association of Vietnamese people in the Czech Republic to help evacuate Vietnamese citizens fleeing Ukraine.

The committee is regularly updating the regulations and instructions of the Czech government, neighbouring countries and the European Union (EU) on entry from Ukraine. Announcements are published on the official website of the Vietnamese Embassy and social media, to help those fleeing better understand local rules.

The committee has so far raised nearly CZK600,000 (US$25,700) in cash for the evacuees and received EUR20,000 ($21,830) from the association of the Vietnamese people in the Czech Republic, which will be spent on food, medicine and other necessities for those fleeing to Poland and Romania.

Additionally, it has collected donations of food, drinking water, blankets, clothes and medicine from local people. Many expats have voluntarily driven Vietnamese people from the border with Ukraine to temporary shelters in the Czech Republic, while others are providing accommodation and food.

The Vietnamese ambassador to the Czech Republic, Thái Xuân Dũng, said as the country’s immigration and entry rules are very strict, the embassy has focused their efforts on giving support on legal issues to Vietnamese people.

In Slovakia, the Vietnamese Embassy is estimated to have evacuated over 100 Vietnamese nationals from Ukraine, most of whom chose to go to other European countries.

The embassy is closely coordinating with authorities to facilitate their entry, transit and temporary stay, as well as offering legal support to those who lost their identity papers or wish to return to Việt Nam.

Vietnamese expats in Slovakia have been arranging accommodation and travel from the border for their compatriots from Ukraine and providing them with food and other necessities. Vietnamese associations in Kosice, near the border with Ukraine, have sent rescue teams to the border gates day and night to offer them help.

Over EUR10,000 in cash and a large volume of other food and necessities has been raised for those in need. — VNS