A 23-year-old Yerushalayim resident was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident in Vietnam, prompting an international effort by ZAKA and Israeli and French authorities to return his body to Israel for kevurah.

ZAKA identified the victim as Dovid Ben Lulu Z”L. The organization’s International Unit received notification of the tragedy on Friday and immediately began working with Israel’s Foreign Ministry and authorities in France and Vietnam.

The case has been complicated by the fact that the niftar held both Israeli and French citizenship.

As part of the efforts, French authorities took the unusual step of specially opening the French consulate in Hanoi on Sunday, despite it having been scheduled to remain closed, in order to process the necessary documents and expedite arrangements.

ZAKA’s International Unit is simultaneously working with the family and local authorities to ensure kavod hameis and arrange for the niftar, who is currently hundreds of kilometers from Hanoi, to be transferred to the Vietnamese capital before being flown to Israel.

Serge Ben Haim, commander of ZAKA France, said teams have been working continuously with authorities in all three countries.

“Since we learned of the case, we have been working nonstop with the French, Vietnamese and Israeli authorities. This morning I personally went to the French Foreign Ministry, where the necessary instructions were given to the team in Hanoi, while at the same time we are in direct contact with the French consulate and the family,” Ben Haim said.

“Following the efforts, the consulate in Hanoi was opened today specifically to advance the processing of the documents. The deceased is hundreds of kilometers from Hanoi, and we are now working to arrange his transfer and return him to Israel as quickly as possible, while fully preserving the dignity of the deceased.”

ZAKA Deputy Director of Operations Chaim Weingarten said the case requires extensive coordination between multiple countries.

“This is a complex case that requires activity and coordination with authorities in several countries. ZAKA’s International Unit is working together with ZAKA France and the family to overcome the difficulties and expedite the procedures as much as possible. We hope to quickly complete all the necessary steps and bring Dovid Z”L to burial in Israel.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)