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Family in the middle east

(14 Posts)
albera Sat 28-Mar-26 10:28:38

Are there any other grans out there who have family members living in the gulf states and find being very calm and normal with them on Whats app etc quite difficult when all we read and see in press and on TV is hyped and far from calm.

Cossy Sat 28-Mar-26 11:29:07

My daughter’s therapist was living in SA, far from calm and she came home.

Likewise my lovely goddaughter, also working as a nurse in SA, also home.

I’m sure that those who’ve chosen to stay in ME might well be in areas not directly affected, as yet, by any actual bombings.

BlueBelle Sat 28-Mar-26 11:32:35

I was wondering why South Africa was a hot spot Cossy then the penny dropped

Astitchintime Sat 28-Mar-26 11:32:40

My dad used to work in the ME many years ago and although times have changed I will always remember his words…….”don’t go unless you absolutely have to”.
Not a place I have ever had an inclination to visit let alone live.

dragonfly46 Sat 28-Mar-26 11:34:08

I have a friend whose family live in Dubai and they are having to do home schooling, cannot leave the house and have to keep the curtains drawn in case shrapnel shatters the windows.

dragonfly46 Sat 28-Mar-26 11:34:58

They are on the foreign office's list in case they have to come home in a hurry. Fortunately they have a house over here.

SueDonim Sat 28-Mar-26 12:04:52

A friend’s family live in Dubai. Life is pretty normal for them and they’ve no intention of coming back to the UK at the moment.

Allira Sat 28-Mar-26 12:20:32

Our friend's DS and DiL live in SA. I think the children were supposed to go out for the Easter holidays (they are at school and university here in the UK). I hope they don't and go to stay with grandparents here instead.

DD's friend is still in Dubai.

People can't just leave homes and jobs.

Cossy Sat 28-Mar-26 12:23:21

BlueBelle

I was wondering why South Africa was a hot spot Cossy then the penny dropped

Sorry, I should have stated Saudi Arabia!

Cossy Sat 28-Mar-26 12:24:48

Allira

Our friend's DS and DiL live in SA. I think the children were supposed to go out for the Easter holidays (they are at school and university here in the UK). I hope they don't and go to stay with grandparents here instead.

DD's friend is still in Dubai.

People can't just leave homes and jobs.

You’re so right, people do have to just carry on until they are ordered to return. Life has to go on as normally as possible, like it does for everyone.

Allira Sat 28-Mar-26 12:29:14

albera
I hope your family is safe

I'm not sure about the news being ^hyped up^; what the news media reports are the incidents that have happened. Your family will be the ones who know what is happening in their area and be able to reassure you and if or when they are advised to leave.

lixy Sat 28-Mar-26 15:52:23

Hi albera I have family members in Israel. They have been there for more than 40 years and have no intention at all of leaving.
When I get anxious they remind me that I carried on as usual throughout the IRA bombings of London, even though I was living and working in Kensington at the time. I used to say to them that Westminster was a long way away and so not to fret.

Now they say to me that ‘that trouble’ is far away from them and they are sleeping in their bomb proof from merely as a precaution.
They haven’t been able to travel around as usual for quite a while now though and are looking forward to a change of scenery as soon as they can.

I limit my news consumption as I get tired of seeing so much repeated again and again. I do also read the English edition of the Israeli papers from time to time to keep a sense of perspective.

By the way we are neither Israeli nor Jewish. My family visited Israel all those years ago, loved it and just didn’t return. The life they have there is of a much higher standard that they would have had here. (current conflict apart of course)

I hope the family and friends of all on here keep safe.

MT62 Sat 28-Mar-26 16:58:26

lixy

Hi albera I have family members in Israel. They have been there for more than 40 years and have no intention at all of leaving.
When I get anxious they remind me that I carried on as usual throughout the IRA bombings of London, even though I was living and working in Kensington at the time. I used to say to them that Westminster was a long way away and so not to fret.

Now they say to me that ‘that trouble’ is far away from them and they are sleeping in their bomb proof from merely as a precaution.
They haven’t been able to travel around as usual for quite a while now though and are looking forward to a change of scenery as soon as they can.

I limit my news consumption as I get tired of seeing so much repeated again and again. I do also read the English edition of the Israeli papers from time to time to keep a sense of perspective.

By the way we are neither Israeli nor Jewish. My family visited Israel all those years ago, loved it and just didn’t return. The life they have there is of a much higher standard that they would have had here. (current conflict apart of course)

I hope the family and friends of all on here keep safe.

Probably safer than the uk, tbh.

Esmay Mon 30-Mar-26 08:10:59

I don't have family in the Middle East ,but many friends who settled there permanently with all their worldly goods.
It's a nightmare for them .