July 2018 – Protests against Government and Lack of Services
20th June 2019 – Internal Protest and International Tension
3rd January 2020 – Soleimani Assassination
The South East Asian holiday started in a somewhat unusual way. Four weeks in to this five-week work stint, the extra week of work was going to be challenging. I woke up as normal, and as that particular Friday was a ‘camp day’, I put the kettle on for a cup of tea. Turning on the television, from the first headline it was clear that this would not be a normal day.
Overnight there had been an incident at Baghdad airport about 500 kilometers north. So engrossed by the coverage, the kettle switched itself off. The message come over the intercom for all personnel to go to the recreation room for a security briefing.
The morning was spent in a nervous excitement, as we tried to maintain focus on what had seemed so important yesterday. The email came through just before lunch that we would be down-manned and I prepared for a return to Dubai. Special thanks to the security teams and management for putting distance between us non-essential staff and the rumblings of international politics so quickly and efficiently.
5th March 2020 – Covid-19
Ecosystem Hotspots 