‘It Is Colder Than Ireland At This Time Of The Year'

GOAL worker on spending Christmas away from home

This will be a Christmas like no other due to Covid-19, no matter where we are in the world.

But the impact will be hardest felt in the 13 countries in which GOAL works in Africa, the Middle East and Latin America.

I am originally from Kells in Co Meath but I will be spending Christmas with my wife and children in Cyprus, where I am based as GOAL’s Regional Security Advisor for the Middle East.

I will not get home to Ireland to spend time with family and friends over the holiday season.

I am hearing daily from family about the situation back home, and the latest restrictions that are being imposed due to the spread of the virus back home in recent days.

But despite the restrictions faced in Ireland, it pales in comparison to the impact of Covid-19 in the communities in which GOAL works in the Middle East.