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Kate Adie introduces insight, wit and analysis from BBC correspondents and writers.

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From Our Own Correspondent: The Thai workers caught up in the Israel-Gaza conflict

26/10/2023

The Thai workers caught up in the Israel-Gaza conflict

BBC Radio 4 - From Our Own Correspondent, The Thai workers caught up in the Israel-Gaza conflict

Members of Israel's Thai migrant worker community describe surviving the Hamas attacks.

Thailand provides much of Israel's foreign farm labour and several Thai workers were among the hundreds of foreign nationals killed or taken hostage in the recent Hamas attacks.

Kate Adie presents stories from Thailand, Ukraine, Argentina, Mauritius and Greece. 

When Hamas launched its attack on southern Israel from Gaza on the 7th October, over 200 of the people killed were foreign nationals. At least 30 of them were from Thailand, and at least 19 Thais are believed to have been abducted by Hamas. Jonathan Head travels to north-eastern Thailand to meet some of the survivors of the attacks, who have now returned home, as well as relatives of those still missing.

This week marks 20 months since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. For journalists reporting on the war, not to mention Ukraine’s people, it can be a challenge to ensure the ongoing conflict continues to receive the world’s attention. The BBC’s Ukraine Correspondent, James Waterhouse, reflects on the particular rhythm of covering this war.

Last weekend, Argentina voted in its first round of presidential elections. The results surprised pollsters who had predicted an outright win for populist Javier Milei - a colourful candidate, whose ‘shock-jock’ style has led to comparisons with Donald Trump. But in Argentinian politics, surprises are to be expected, says Katy Watson.

Mauritius is among Africa’s wealthiest nations, but its position in the Indian Ocean has made it an ideal hub for international drug traffickers. The country is now battling a growing drug epidemic, with young people particularly affected. Lorraine Mallinder reports.
 
The Mount Athos peninsula in Northern Greece is one of Orthodox Christianity’s holiest sites. The region is semi-independent from Greece - though recently Greece's money laundering authority has taken a critical look at Russian money flowing into the monasteries. William Edwards makes a pilgrimage there.

Producer: Viv Jones
Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith
Production Coordinator: Katie Morrison

(Image: Narissara Chanthasang, the wife of a Thai migrant worker in southern Israel, has had no news of her husband since Hamas militants stormed the country.)

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