A local mother-of-two stranded in Dubai has made an emotional appeal asking “please, please, please get us on those flights”.
Digital media creator, Denise Curran, was staying in the Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR) area on a family holiday with her husband and children when Iran launched a barrage of attacks across the region in response to a massive US–Israeli assault.
She took to social media that evening (February 28) telling her thousands of followers she was “absolutely distraught” and doing everything she can to shield her children from the unfolding chaos.
Now, five days on she is visibly distressed as the situation continues to develop beyond the confines of their apartment.
She and her family have witnessed missiles streaking across the sky, heard the explosions and suffered the extreme isolation of having been issued instructions to stay indoors.
Related: Local mum on family holiday in Dubai pleads: ‘Please pray for us’ as missiles light up night sky
Thousands of flights were cancelled as a result of the conflict leaving many more tens of thousands of travellers, like Denise and her family, stranded.
As limited airspace re-opened, airlines took steps to prioritise the repatriation of a limited number of passengers.
But Denise has been unsuccessful in attempting to secure her family a place on these priority flights and is now becoming increasingly desperate to get home.
Through tears and with quavering voice, Denise told her following: “We are in Dubai, we’re trying to get home. I have two young children at age 3 and 2.
“We can’t get on the priority flight. We are booked onto Sunday’s flight but will it go, I don’t know. I don’t know. Who knows?
“All the scheduled flights are being cancelled but there is flights going out and how you get on them is like hen’s teeth, it’s like gold dust.
“But all I’m asking is please, please, please we want on the flight. Please get my two children home safe. If you can do anything, I beg you.”
Denise also tagged the post for the attention of Emirates, Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill, The Irish News, BBC, ITV and Visit Dubai.
