Viet Nam - A group of 29 Vietnamese migrants who were left homeless and jobless after Typhoon Haiyan struck the Philippines last month have been repatriated through the efforts of IOM, the Embassy of Viet Nam in the Philippines and the Vietnamese community in Manila.

“Like many irregular migrants around the world, they were approached in their village and lured to live and work abroad with the promises of greater income than they would have in Viet Nam,”  said Florian Forster, IOM’s Chief of Mission in Viet Nam. 

The migrants eventually settled in Tacloban City, working illegally as traders in the local market and selling goods door-to-door. When Haiyan tore through the city last month it destroyed both their homes and livelihoods, leaving them with nothing. Their status as irregular migrants added to their vulnerability, and they chose not to seek humanitarian assistance for fear of being discovered as illegal residents.

After a four-week ordeal the migrants – men, women and children – made it to Manila.  In the capital, they made contact with members of the Vietnamese expatriate and received food, shelter and funds for flights back to Viet Nam.  Meanwhile, the Vietnamese Embassy in Manila worked closely with the Philippine Bureau of Immigration to ensure that the migrants could exit the country legally. 

IOM staff ensured that the return of the migrants went smoothly by providing airport and customs assistance upon arrival in Ho Chi Minh City, as well as onward travel back to their home province Phu Yen in Central Viet Nam. 

Finally, the migrants each received a reintegration grant of USD 1,000 to assist with restarting their lives back home, provided through the regional Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) project for Bali Process Member States (overseen by the Bali Process Regional Support Office in Bangkok, with financial support from the Government of Australia).

By Sunday, all 29 stranded migrants had arrived home after four exhausting weeks struggling to survive in the wake of the typhoon. “Their personal courage and determination, and the coordinated assistance of organizations and concerned individuals saw them through. We are glad we could play our part in a successful outcome,” said IOM’s Forster.

For more information, please contact: 

Florian G. Forster
Chief of Mission
IOM Viet Nam
Email: fforster@iom.int
Tel: +84 4 37366258, Ext. 106
Mobile: +84 9 03450196