Middle East conflict stopped local volunteers travel to Jordan

I am just writing on behalf of Atlantic Humanitarian Relief (AHR), and particularly the six Irish volunteers who had planned to travel to Northern Jordan on October 5th this year, writes Dr Brendan O'Shea. Mindful of the generosity of many in Kilcullen who supported the Gormanastown Chapel Choir Fundraiser in September, which raised just over €5,000, it's important to note that unfortunately, given the deteriorating political situation in the region, we made a reluctant decision to pull out 12 hours before departure.

Due to travel on Friday October 4th, we were dismayed the previous Wednesday at the major escalation of the conflict (Iranian missile bombardment on Israel). Some of us noted flights cancelled, and others that flight schedules were modified. We consulted the Department of Foreign Affairs advisory on Thursday evening, which did not make for reassuring reading. Advice was to avoid travel to the region unless absolutely essential, warning regarding rioting in Amman, and to absolutely avoid visiting Refugee Camps at all costs.

The AHR Mission did take place, with reduced numbers of volunteers, and those who made it for the most part were colleagues already working in and travelling within the region as opposed to travelling from the US/EU.

Funds and supplies gathered for the October 2024 Mission will be used on the May 2025 Mission, when hopefully conditions will be safer. Circumstances facing Syrian refugees, most of whom are now displaced for over 10 years, have deteriorated in the region as a result of the Israeli escalation into Lebanon, which had accommodated a large number of both Palestinian and Syrian refugees. The Israeli incursion and associated violence prompted flight of large numbers of Syrian refugees out of Lebanon and back towards Syria, in the hope of reaching the 30pc of Syria which remains under the control of various rebel forces. They are clearly caught between dreadful choices.

AHR remains committed, and will schedule its next Mission for May 2025. We will be running a further Fundraiser, 'Music for Medicine', at Kildare Cathedral at 7.30pm on Friday November 22nd, with Gormanstown Choir (Tallis, Faure and some easy listening), with Arthur Green Organist and The Consonance Clarinet Quartet, and with tickets and donations opportunity on Eventbrite — a key date for your November diary!

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