Nearly 350 Vietnamese citizens repatriated from Australia, New Zealand
VOV.VN - National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines on September 4 conducted a flight to bring home nearly 350 Vietnamese citizens left stranded in Australia and New Zealand due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The repatriation flight was arranged by relevant Vietnamese agencies, Vietnamese representative agencies in Australia and New Zealand, and agencies of the host countries.
Passengers on board the plane included minors under 18, elderly people, sick people, guest workers whose visas or labour contracts have expired, students without accommodations due to the closure of dormitories, and other cases in specially difficult circumstances.
Due to travel restrictions in the host countries, Vietnamese agencies worked closely with their Australian and NZ counterparts to facilitate Vietnamese citizens’ travel to two airports in Sydney and Melbourne. They also sent staff to the airports to assist the citizens with necessary procedures before their departure.
Vietnam Airlines strictly implemented security, safety and epidemiological measures during the flight to protect the passengers’ health and prevent the possible spread of the virus.
Right after the plane landed at Ho Chi Minh City’s Tan Son Nhat International Airport, all crew members and passengers underwent medical check-ups and were transferred to concentrated quarantine facilities in accordance with regulations on COVID-19 prevention and control.
More repatriation flights are set to be conducted in the coming time to bring home Vietnamese citizens with disadvantaged circumstances, depending on their need and the nation’s quarantine capacity.
