‘It never stops being scary’ | Houston-area man stuck in Qatar as attacks happening all around him

Sean Starkey says he’s frustrated at the lack of help to get him and the other Americans out of harm’s way.

HOUSTON — Sean Starkey, an American contractor working in Qatar, told KHOU 11 News that he and two other Americans have received no communication from the U.S. government as security concerns grow in the region.

“I’m sitting here relying on Qatar’s missile defense system,” Starkey said. “I have no idea how good it is or how bad it is. It never stops being scary.”

Starkey said air raid alarms and emergency alerts have become routine near the work site.

“Alarms are going off saying take shelter. Your phones are going off with emergency broadcasts nonstop,” he said. “It’s just missile strike after missile strike, drone attack after drone attack. It’s constant.”

Several weeks ago, Starkey and two other Americans traveled to Qatar after being subcontracted through their company to work on a project for Qatar Energy in Ras Laffan, a major industrial city north of Doha.

Before leaving the United States, Starkey said he enrolled in the U.S. State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, known as STEP, which is designed to send safety alerts and help the government contact Americans overseas during emergencies.

Starkey said he has not received any warnings or assistance through the program.

“It’s a worthless program,” he said. “I’m in harm’s way and they still have yet to message me. I’ve had missiles go over my head and explode and they still have not warned me.”

Starkey said the only alerts he and his coworkers have received came from Qatar’s emergency broadcast system. He added that messages sent to U.S. officials and political leaders have gone unanswered, leaving them to search for ways to leave the country on their own.

He also said they have been warned to remain cautious because of hostility toward Americans.

“We’ve already been told by Qatar Energy that we have to watch our backs around here because a lot of people have animosity toward Americans,” Starkey said. “We’re the only three Americans at this camp.”

Starkey said he recently learned that other countries are arranging transportation for their citizens to leave.

“When I talked to the Italians today, they said their government is sending a bus to Doha and then flying them out,” he said. “We asked if we could get on their bus, and they said no — only if you’re Italian. I have an American passport.”

We’ve reached out to the state department on Sean’s behalf… In its response, a spokesperson said there was no higher priority than the safe return of American citizens. Americans who need help should call the state department hotline.

Though there was no direct answer on my questions regarding Starkey’s case.

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