The woman's son was among the 54 victims recovered from the earthquake rubble by the Vietnamese rescue team following the June 24 disaster. Her emotional reunion with her son is the clearest testament to the significance of the mission of the Vietnamese rescuers.
Despite the urgent deployment, the long trip to the disaster zone, and the challenging living and working conditions, aftershocks continuing to threaten their safety, the rescuers upheld their professionalism, resilience, strong sense of duty, determination, and experience gained from previous overseas disaster-response missions. Racing against the clock, they recovered dozens of victims from collapsed structures, provided emergency medical assistance at the scene, and handed them over to local authorities.
This is not the first time Vietnam has deployed rescue forces to assist during an emergency. In Turkey, Myanmar, and now Venezuela, each mission has demonstrated the professionalism and capability, and underscored Vietnam’s commitment to standing alongside the international community in responding to shared challenges.
Major General Pham Van Ty, Deputy Director of the Rescue and Salvage Department at the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army and head of the military contingent, said: "This is the third time Vietnam has deployed personnel and equipment overseas to carry out a humanitarian assistance and disaster relief mission. As soldiers, we are always ready to fulfill our duties under any circumstances or conditions. In that spirit, we are fully committed, clear in our purpose, and determined to fulfill the mission entrusted to us."
In recognition of Vietnam's compassion and invaluable assistance, the Venezuelan government on Monday awarded the Vietnamese delegation the "Hero of Venezuela" medal. Earlier, Acting President Delcy Rodríguez personally visited the team's base camp to express her appreciation and present a letter of gratitude.
Vietnam's rescue operation in Venezuela carries a significance beyond humanitarian assistance. It reinforces the image of Vietnam as a peace-loving, compassionate, responsible, and reliable partner committed to international solidarity and cooperation.
