On November 30, the remaining 23 Vietnamese migrants who lost their lives in a refrigerated truck in Essex, the UK arrived at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) has announced.
| The bodies handed over to local authorities. Photo: MOFA |
The bodies and remains of the decreased are en route to their hometowns, marking the complete repatriation after more than a month since the victims were found dead on October 23.
| Both bodies and ashes were repatriated this time. Photo: MOFA |
On November 27, 16 bodies were repatriated home.
The victims include 31 men and 8 women whose ages ranged from 15 to 44.
| Authorities classify remains. Photo: MOFA |
The repatriation completes thank to the cooperation between Vietnamese and British authorities together with the support of Vietnam Airlines, the MOFA said in a statement Saturday.
The identification, citizen protection, and repatriation have been conducted in line with Vietnamese and international law as well as customs of both Vietnam and the UK.
| The remains and bodies en route home. Photo: MOFA |
On November 20, Pope Francis offered prayers for 39 Vietnamese migrants and strongly protested human trafficking.
“Finally, together with you, I entrust to the Lord, the merciful father, the 39 Vietnamese migrants who died in England last month. It was heartbreaking; let us all pray for them,” the pope said in a video message released November 20 by the Vatican.
The pope said in Vietnamese culture, the word “home” includes “everything that is most dear in the hearts of a person, not only family and relatives but also one’s birthplace and homeland.”
