On July 11, at the Government Headquarters, Politburo Member, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung attended the ceremony to commend the Delegation of the Vietnam People's Army and the Vietnam People's Police for supporting Venezuela in overcoming the consequences of the earthquake and completing the task of returning home.
Also attending the event were General Phan Van Giang - Member of the Politburo, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National Defense; members of the Party Central Committee, leaders of ministries, branches, agencies; 124 officers and soldiers of the Vietnam People's Army and the Vietnam People's Police participating in the delegation; Venezuelan Chargé d'Affaires in Vietnam Estela del Valle Quijada Suárez.
Reporting at the commendation ceremony, Major General Pham Van Ty - Deputy Director of the Department of Rescue and Relief (General Staff), Head of the working delegation - said: From June 29 to July 6, 2026, the delegation will implement high intensity work from 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM daily, some days working overnight, regardless of sunny or rainy weather, overcoming difficulties due to time zone differences, air, especially the pungent smell of decomposing bodies.
We received signals and information from your country about signs of life 3 times, the whole delegation stayed up all night in the rain with the local forces determined to fight for life," Major General Pham Van Ty informed.
In particular, according to Major General Pham Van Ty, the areas being searched by the Vietnamese forces are all extremely difficult and dangerous areas, where many international rescue teams previously could not carry out search operations.
With the highest sense of responsibility, officers and soldiers always strive to find the victims, firmly abide by the view "if you have discovered, you must bring them out", no matter how harsh the conditions are, they are determined to implement it, with dedication as if looking for their own loved ones.
At times, officers and soldiers had to go down to tunnels tens of meters deep in the ruins of high-rise buildings to access the scene.
We always tell each other that searching here is like finding our own loved ones. Every time we find a victim, witness their loved ones bursting into tears, we cannot hold back our tears. That is also the feeling that the country and people of Vietnam have for the people of your country," Major General Pham Van Ty expressed.
Colonel Pham Hung Duong - Deputy Director of the Fire and Rescue Police Department, Head of the Ministry of Public Security Working Group - affirmed that the working group has thoroughly grasped and strictly implemented the directions of the Ministry's leaders at the send-off ceremony; always ensuring safety, technical, tactical, information and reporting regimes and complying with regulations when performing tasks abroad.
In each search and rescue mission, the requirement to ensure safety is always put first and thoroughly grasped to all members of the delegation.
According to Colonel Pham Hung Duong, the members of the delegation all showed high determination, unremitting efforts, not afraid of difficulties and hardships with the desire to save as many victims as possible.
The delegation coordinated with the working delegation of the Ministry of National Defense to deploy mass mobilization work, sharing difficulties with people affected by the earthquake.
