Between the Sirens and Rising Costs: How Czechs Perceive the Conflict in the Middle East
The situation in the Middle East is changing every day. At first glance, the main players, the USA, Israel, and Iran, are far from the only ones feeling this conflict. The Middle East stretches from northeastern Africa through southeastern Europe to the vast region of southwestern Asia, altogether forming an impressively large area. A few Czechs and Slovaks also live there, sharing their impressions of current events. While real estate agents promise that nothing is happening in reality, someone like Jaro Slávik opted for a somewhat different message.
Drones, explosions, and sirens. This can be the everyday reality for some. However, truly only for some. The current conflict has disrupted the dream vacations of many Czechs or at the very least made them somewhat more difficult. However, this is very hard to compare to people for whom this is everyday life. Social networks give us the space to share practically anything, no matter how distorted and embellished it may be. So it's sometimes quite challenging to discern what corresponds to reality. The true portrayal of today's Middle East is found in the stories of people for whom sirens and economic uncertainty have become the new normal. The perspective of Czechs living right in the center of events shows how thin the line is between everyday life and wartime reality.
Egypt is not significantly affected
We asked Czech influencer Eliška Holínková, who lives there with her husband, about life in Egypt now. She shares videos about her life in Egypt and her adoption of the Islamic faith.
"Personally, it only affects us through increased fuel prices, and thus transportation, and some food items. Overall, it affects Egypt in tourism, as people are afraid to fly here, often due to the news...and tourism is very important for Egypt. Otherwise, it doesn’t affect us much..."
She informed exclusively for LP-life.cz.
The Middle East and surrounding countries are likely to feel the impact of increased fuel prices and a decline in tourism. According to available sources, Egypt has increased them by up to thirty percent due to the ongoing conflict.
Part of the hospital in the bunker
Nurse Martina Paletová told us what it currently looks like in the Jerusalem hospital where she works as a nurse. While she mostly feels the restrictions on air travel, she would compare the entire situation for the local residents to the time of COVID. Most of their acquaintances are staying home and receiving benefits from the employment office.
"I'm 'essential', so I work for hospital staff. There are special children's camps where soldiers take care of the kids. Part of the hospital is in a bunker in the underground parking lot. Some departments operate normally. We should go to designated areas in case of sirens, while non-ambulatory patients stay in their rooms. Me too. I actually never went to the shelter by myself."
she explained to us in the interview.
Then she added that she herself does not particularly feel the situation.
Among Sirens, We Try to Lead a Normal Life
A young Czech woman shares her life in Israel on her Facebook account. She shares her observations, negative and positive moments, and the safety measures she herself undertakes.
"One of the weirdest things about this war is that most of the time, nothing happens. Like absolutely nothing. While it looks like an action movie on TV, in reality, time merges into a strange shapeless mass. Even starting to do anything with the awareness that another attack could come at any moment is nearly impossible. Not to mention that I actually handle the long pauses between sirens the worst. I feel a strange tension that doesn't allow me to switch off. Apparently, it often happens here that people hear sirens even when they aren't there because their bodies are constantly feeling threatened. So I've stopped expecting to function as usual, and I'm glad if I manage at least something."
Writes in his post on Facebook.
Sources: original text, respondent's statements, Instagram, Facebook
