Season’s Greetings from Terry Waite CBE

Once again many across the world are facing a Christmas when restrictions may have to be in force, as the latest Omicron variant of the coronavirus spreads.

Understandably many people will be disappointed and some will face real financial hardship as well as emotional strain.

During the past year we at Hostage International have been in constant touch with many families who are facing considerable strain due to the fact that a close relative or friend is being held hostage. We also have been offering support to former hostages, including those who have been arbitrarily detained.

As so much of our work is conducted on a confidential basis we can’t and don’t talk about it in any detail, which of course means that as a charity we are not all that well known. Those who do know us have been more than generous in assisting with funding and I would like to take this opportunity to say a big ‘thank you’ for your assistance. You may never know whom you have helped but I can guarantee one hundred percent that what you have given will be well spent.

To those of you who are reading this message and are unfamiliar with our work do take a look around our website where you will find some details of what we have done in the past year.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all, wherever you may be, a very Happy and peaceful Christmas.

One way to survive a time of restricted activity is to learn to live one day at a time as fully as you can given the circumstances.

We at Hostage International cannot forget that in different parts of the world some poor individual will be spending Christmas Day as a hostage. At home their family will live with acute anxiety. On your behalf we will be able to assure many that they are not forgotten and that there are many people who have stretched out a hand to help them.

Keep well and keep hope alive.

Terry Waite CBE

President Hostage International.

21 December 2021

PLEASE GIVE WHAT YOU CAN TO SUPPORT OUR WORK.