Discussion
CharlesdeGaulle said:
Ruskie said:
Just received confirmation today that I’m going out to Syria in near future helping run a mobile TSP/Clinic. Fingers crossed things don’t escalate with the west as I could see it getting shelved. I will take lots of pictures and upload when I return.
Crikey chum. This is a step-up from what you did in Iraq. I'm sure you don't need me to say this, but you really need to think this through very carefully. I can't caution against this enough. A brief update and some pictures.
My trip was somewhat disappointing. We were suppose to enter Syria but a variety of issues, political, red tape, local issues, miscommunications meant that it was delayed. I was based at Erbil for a couple of weeks. A nice city in Kurdistan in north Iraq. Here are a couple of photos of the surrounding area.
To fill the time we had a contact in a Yazidi internally displaced camp who agreed we could travel the 200km north and assist in the camp. I have attached a link to what happens to these people during ISIS rule. It was brutally horrific and now they are stuck in IDP unable to return home
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genocide_of_Yazidi...
The conditions were difficult to experience and a sense of hopelessness hung over the camp. We put a health clinic on and because of my background in professional football the camp directors were very keen for me to coach a session with the Yazidi girls football team. The girls responded brilliantly and were very talented. A real privilege and honour.
Travelling 200km in the back of a pick up truck wasn’t easy. 38c heat and the thought of imminent death was a challenge!
Approximately 13,000 people live in this camp. One of many situated in Northern Iraq.
Haribos are life!
The football team post training. Special collection of people.
Despite having nothing, the people welcomed us and insisted on cooking. Two of my team hadn’t eaten Chicken for 6 and 19 years respectively but they took one for the team and eat some so as not to offend our hosts.
Unfortunately Syria didn’t happen for me and I took the decision to return home based on what I was hearing. I’m gutted I never go over there to assist but we tried to help in smaller ways in Iraq.
My trip was somewhat disappointing. We were suppose to enter Syria but a variety of issues, political, red tape, local issues, miscommunications meant that it was delayed. I was based at Erbil for a couple of weeks. A nice city in Kurdistan in north Iraq. Here are a couple of photos of the surrounding area.
To fill the time we had a contact in a Yazidi internally displaced camp who agreed we could travel the 200km north and assist in the camp. I have attached a link to what happens to these people during ISIS rule. It was brutally horrific and now they are stuck in IDP unable to return home
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genocide_of_Yazidi...
The conditions were difficult to experience and a sense of hopelessness hung over the camp. We put a health clinic on and because of my background in professional football the camp directors were very keen for me to coach a session with the Yazidi girls football team. The girls responded brilliantly and were very talented. A real privilege and honour.
Travelling 200km in the back of a pick up truck wasn’t easy. 38c heat and the thought of imminent death was a challenge!
Approximately 13,000 people live in this camp. One of many situated in Northern Iraq.
Haribos are life!
The football team post training. Special collection of people.
Despite having nothing, the people welcomed us and insisted on cooking. Two of my team hadn’t eaten Chicken for 6 and 19 years respectively but they took one for the team and eat some so as not to offend our hosts.
Unfortunately Syria didn’t happen for me and I took the decision to return home based on what I was hearing. I’m gutted I never go over there to assist but we tried to help in smaller ways in Iraq.
citizensm1th said:
Nice one fella
What was it that made you decide not to go?
Basically them team aren’t heading over till early next week and when they get there, there are issues regarding western medics working. I would of been going just to seen what it was like. Also I would of only had maybe 8 days in field rather than the 4 weeks that was the original plan.What was it that made you decide not to go?
RC1807 said:
Hi Ruskie
I commented earlier in the thread back n 2017, I think... I came back to this today as a colleague and I were discussing middle east topics, work related stuff (not O &G as you thought originally)...Anyway, my colleague commented to me about Mosul, and that there's a large clean up in effect, mostly by volunteers, for the cadavers left by IS killings. Are you aware of this?
(I've not looked up in the news, but I suspect I'd get too upset anway
)
On another note, pleased you're back in one piece!
I’m not aware but it wouldn’t surprise me. When we drove north we could of gone through Mosul and it would of been interesting. However we were on Kurdish residency visas so technically we couldn’t leave Kurdistan. I commented earlier in the thread back n 2017, I think... I came back to this today as a colleague and I were discussing middle east topics, work related stuff (not O &G as you thought originally)...Anyway, my colleague commented to me about Mosul, and that there's a large clean up in effect, mostly by volunteers, for the cadavers left by IS killings. Are you aware of this?
(I've not looked up in the news, but I suspect I'd get too upset anway
)On another note, pleased you're back in one piece!
Judging on what I saw last year it will take a lot of time and a lot of money.
Whilst browsing the Syria thread I remembered I hadn’t fully updated this thread. Approximately 2 months after I got back I got a phone call informing me that here had been issues with my team when they entered Syria. I didn’t go into much detail earlier on in the thread but there were many issues not least the lack of security and contingency plans in an emergency. Having been in Mosul I was aware of the potential risks but Syria is different due to the many actors there. Anyway this is what occurred...
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-...
Two of my team went out for a walk with just passports. They were picked up by the Syrian Government forces and arrested with being spies. They were transferred to Damascus and held in prison. They were in solitary confinement in the dark for 6 weeks with only cockroaches and lice for company. One meal a day and mock executions also took place throughout the 6 weeks. One of the guys who I speak to regular was telling me the full details. He lost 45kg in weight and only at the end nearing their release were they given proper food.
Sorry for the long update but I thought it might be interesting for people to hear.
Now, just off to google visa’s requirements for Yemen.......
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-...
Two of my team went out for a walk with just passports. They were picked up by the Syrian Government forces and arrested with being spies. They were transferred to Damascus and held in prison. They were in solitary confinement in the dark for 6 weeks with only cockroaches and lice for company. One meal a day and mock executions also took place throughout the 6 weeks. One of the guys who I speak to regular was telling me the full details. He lost 45kg in weight and only at the end nearing their release were they given proper food.
Sorry for the long update but I thought it might be interesting for people to hear.
Now, just off to google visa’s requirements for Yemen.......
andy_s said:
Ruskie said:
Whilst browsing the Syria thread I remembered I hadn’t fully updated this thread. Approximately 2 months after I got back I got a phone call informing me that here had been issues with my team when they entered Syria. I didn’t go into much detail earlier on in the thread but there were many issues not least the lack of security and contingency plans in an emergency. Having been in Mosul I was aware of the potential risks but Syria is different due to the many actors there. Anyway this is what occurred...
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-...
Two of my team went out for a walk with just passports. They were picked up by the Syrian Government forces and arrested with being spies. They were transferred to Damascus and held in prison. They were in solitary confinement in the dark for 6 weeks with only cockroaches and lice for company. One meal a day and mock executions also took place throughout the 6 weeks. One of the guys who I speak to regular was telling me the full details. He lost 45kg in weight and only at the end nearing their release were they given proper food.
Sorry for the long update but I thought it might be interesting for people to hear.
Now, just off to google visa’s requirements for Yemen.......
Interesting comment re security Ruskie, I'd have thought the NGOs et al would have had things down pat by now. Any comment on root cause or other?https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-...
Two of my team went out for a walk with just passports. They were picked up by the Syrian Government forces and arrested with being spies. They were transferred to Damascus and held in prison. They were in solitary confinement in the dark for 6 weeks with only cockroaches and lice for company. One meal a day and mock executions also took place throughout the 6 weeks. One of the guys who I speak to regular was telling me the full details. He lost 45kg in weight and only at the end nearing their release were they given proper food.
Sorry for the long update but I thought it might be interesting for people to hear.
Now, just off to google visa’s requirements for Yemen.......
One major problem with NGO/Humanitarian involvement in war zones is that impartiality must be upheld at all times so guns in and around a medical facility is a massive no no. However, how can you protect a medical team near the front line otherwise? It was why what we achieved in Iraq last year was groundbreaking because we were embedded with the Iraqi special forces and lived side by side.
There is also evidence that attacks on medical workers are rising.
https://www.unocha.org/story/aid-worker-deaths-num...
andy_s said:
Cheers - I possibly picked up the wrong end of the stick, I thought you meant security in terms of the security advice/provision you were given, hence the two guys walking around, rather than the general situation. Happily you half covered that point anyway!
It was a professional interest from that point of view, protecting oil companies in far flung places is relatively simple; strip the budget and things get more interesting.
Well the advise was papers at all times and not allowed out of the house whilst in Syria. I suspect the lads got bored, wandered down wrong street/area and before they knew it they were away.It was a professional interest from that point of view, protecting oil companies in far flung places is relatively simple; strip the budget and things get more interesting.
TBH the security was a bit lax and alarm bells were ringing early on in Iraq. Badly fitting body armour for example, we were told “you probably won’t need it so don’t worry if it doesn’t fit”. That type of thing, and the lack of a clear contingency plan.
Biggles111 said:
Yemen is pretty well set up in terms of medical expertise, at least in urban areas, but what they need are medical supplies and someone to clear the blockade so they can get supplies in.
I spent 11 great years working there before the war - if you do end up with an offer of a trip there feel free to PM me and will give what info I can.
Very kind offer thank you. I believe visa/government issues are a massive issue with Yemen. Also are government forces going to allow NGO’s to treat the ‘enemy’ to be patched up and sent back away to fight them again. Massive grey area.I spent 11 great years working there before the war - if you do end up with an offer of a trip there feel free to PM me and will give what info I can.
MarkJS said:
Ruskie said:
Whilst browsing the Syria thread I remembered I hadn’t fully updated this thread. Approximately 2 months after I got back I got a phone call informing me that here had been issues with my team when they entered Syria. I didn’t go into much detail earlier on in the thread but there were many issues not least the lack of security and contingency plans in an emergency. Having been in Mosul I was aware of the potential risks but Syria is different due to the many actors there. Anyway this is what occurred...
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-...
Two of my team went out for a walk with just passports. They were picked up by the Syrian Government forces and arrested with being spies. They were transferred to Damascus and held in prison. They were in solitary confinement in the dark for 6 weeks with only cockroaches and lice for company. One meal a day and mock executions also took place throughout the 6 weeks. One of the guys who I speak to regular was telling me the full details. He lost 45kg in weight and only at the end nearing their release were they given proper food.
Sorry for the long update but I thought it might be interesting for people to hear.
Now, just off to google visa’s requirements for Yemen.......
I lived and worked in Damascus for 6 years up till just before the war and a (Syrian) employee of mine had a brother who was in prison. Syrian prisons were utterly horrific places when times were peaceful and I can only imagine what kind of deep hell they must be these days. Your friends/team were extremely lucky to get out in my opinion - regardless of any political pressure. I also have a friend who was politically active when Syria started to crumble. He vanished (along with a group of others) after being picked up by government forces whilst driving from the airport into the city. Never been seen or heard of since. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-...
Two of my team went out for a walk with just passports. They were picked up by the Syrian Government forces and arrested with being spies. They were transferred to Damascus and held in prison. They were in solitary confinement in the dark for 6 weeks with only cockroaches and lice for company. One meal a day and mock executions also took place throughout the 6 weeks. One of the guys who I speak to regular was telling me the full details. He lost 45kg in weight and only at the end nearing their release were they given proper food.
Sorry for the long update but I thought it might be interesting for people to hear.
Now, just off to google visa’s requirements for Yemen.......
pidsy said:
Ruskie said:
On the back of these experiences I am starting a new job with a De-mining charity in September. I will be travelling all over the world assisting in the management of de-mining and everything it entails. Excited, nervous and buzzing all rolled into one.
Ruskie, you don’t mess about do you! Fair play to you. Where do you hear about these opportunities? Not like they pop up on your average job site.
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