THE geography of a conflict is often measured in kilometres and flight paths, but, for a small island community, the true map is drawn by the people we know.
When missiles fall on Manama or sirens wail across the glittering skyline of Dubai, the ripples are felt here – in the living rooms of loved ones in St Helier and St Ouen, in offices with clients in the Gulf.
The escalation following the killing of Iran’s supreme leader has effectively shuttered skies across parts of the Middle East. Airports have been hit, flights have been diverted, and, at the time of writing, thousands remain stranded.
For some Islanders living in the region, the official advice has been to remain indoors. Meanwhile, others have reported a calmer picture, insisting daily life continues, albeit under watchful eyes. Both accounts can be true at once – that is oftentimes the nature of events unfolding at speed.
It would be easy to reach for the language of insulation, to reassure ourselves that geography confers distance because Jersey is small, and it does not set foreign policy.
But our connections run deep – the Island’s finance industry has a presence in the Dubai International Financial Centre and connections across the Middle East, and long-established professional relationships tie businesses here to partners there. There are also Islanders working across a range of industries there, from education to real estate. None of these links are theoretical, they are people.
At moments like this, where the fears we have for those we know and love run high, the modern information environment adds a further layer of difficulty – social media quickly becomes awash with fragmentary accounts, recycled footage and, in some unfortunate cases, manipulated content presented as fact.
Jersey’s Chief Minister has said the situation is being kept under close review and has urged Islanders to monitor official advice, including updates from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Clear guidance and steady communication of first-hand accounts – responsibly sourced and attributed – are vital when events are fluid and anxieties high, to help cut through speculation and help anchor understanding.
There is, for now, little that can be done from this distance beyond staying informed and checking in on those we know.
The hope, as ever, is that civilians are spared and that escalation gives way to restraint.
