Prepare for all eventualities!

Over a month after the outbreak of conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the Vietnamese community in Israel has remained safe so far, as they live in areas far from the conflict zones. There are approximately 500 Vietnamese expatriates residing permanently in Israel, along with about 200 who are working or studying on short-term contracts.

Despite the difficulties ahead, we encouraged each other: Everything will be alright! My husband's parents also traveled over a hundred kilometers to visit their children and grandchildren.

We were worried about my grandparents because their house was only a little over 10 kilometers from the Lebanese border. Every day we begged them to come and live with us for peace of mind, but my grandfather only replied that he would come back whenever necessary. Since the conflict started, he has always encouraged me, not the other way around.

Thư từ Israel: Chuẩn bị cho mọi tình huống! - Ảnh 1.

Israeli city dwellers volunteer to help farmers harvest pomegranates in Kfar Menahem. Photo: FLASH90

It will take a long time for life to return to normal as it was before October 7, 2023. But everyone has to move on. Students returned to school many days ago, only to learn an unwanted activity: how to avoid rockets! Adults also resumed work.

Because of the conflict, about 22,000 Palestinians were not allowed to enter Israel for work, and several thousand Thai laborers returned home right during the harvest season for many products. Therefore, a widespread volunteer campaign began. A few days earlier, my husband and his team from a high-tech company had been harvesting pomegranates for farmers.

Saving agricultural products also helps to prevent the overall impact on life, avoiding wasted produce and preventing price hikes as well as shortages of vegetables and fruits in each family.

The Vietnamese Embassy in Israel and the Liaison Committee of the Association of Vietnamese People in Israel recently organized an online meeting, connecting representatives of the Vietnamese community living, studying, and working from the North, Central, and South of Israel.

Media representatives also participated in the meeting. During the meeting, a group of agricultural trainees living near Shredot in the south, close to the border with Gaza, recounted their experiences in the early days of the conflict. To date, 15 trainees have been assisted in relocating to safer areas. Some expatriates and other trainees also spoke of their anxiety upon hearing rocket sirens, but they are now more reassured.

We were all relieved to hear that our fellow Vietnamese were safe. Ms. Son Nguyen, a Vietnamese expatriate who runs a restaurant in Haifa, said that her life hasn't changed much because it's quite far from the conflict zone. However, business and income have decreased due to Israelis restricting their movements.

The Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel, Ly Duc Trung, informed us that although the situation is currently quite safe, we must always be prepared for the worst-case scenario if the conflict escalates beyond control. Currently, all foreign airlines have suspended operations in Israel.

One of the options being prepared by the embassy is to assist Vietnamese citizens in evacuating by land across the Jordanian border to a safe area. Of course, this is only a contingency plan and no one wants it to happen.

Honestly, right now all we wish for is peace and good health!

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