My Sister, Nicole Vienneau, Has Gone Missing in Syria

Hi Matthew, I heard you on CBC radio this morning and and I did make a posting on the TT - I'm Deedee.

My husband and I were in Hama 2 years ago and stayed at the Cairo Hotel. I am a little confused about where Nicole went on the day she disappeared. You mentioned the Beehives on the radio. We never went there but did pass them on our way to Hama. Not far from the city and I would imagine they could be easily reached by bus, taxi etc. We were never there so cannot comment except to say that they are in a well populated area and relatively close to Hama.

The Dead Cities you mentioned are a different matter altogether. They are quite far from Hama and in a remote area. Most travellers go on a tour to visit them. It would be quite difficult if not impossible to go by bus. The tours are inexpensive and generally arranged by hotels - the Cairo and another one on the same block that is mentioned in the Lonely Planet (sorry, don't have the book with me so I can't give the name). Most travellers go out to the Dead Ciities on tours with one or other of these hotels and if that is where your sister went it is what she probably would have done. But, sometimes you have to wait a few days for a tour. Was she in a rush? If so it is possible she could have arrange something privately. You probably have a good idea what she would do.

The Cairo Hotel is a very friendly place. I'm sure she would have talked both with other travelers and the staff working there. I would really push this and try to find people who met with her these. Try different branches on the TT like central Asia, Indian subcontinent etc. I would keep that current. I know when I am away I usually get to a computer once a week and read just the current postings.

Have the staff at the Cairo been forthcoming with information? When I was there (of course, this was a few years back) they were really chatty and helpful in arranging tours etc. You could check the other hotel down the street to see if by chance she went out with them. If you can't find the name let me know and I will look it up.

A cautionary point - people in Syria are nervous of the police. I should mention that we just loved the country and the people despite the rather ruthless government.

If there is anything more I can do feel free to contact me

diannewilliam@yahoo.ca

Good luck Matthew. Dianne

Hi Matt, it's me Lisa... I have sent a contact your way his name is Kohir. He has access to the Syrian newspapers and will put your sister's info out on your behalf. Please answer Kohir if he contacts you. He is motivated by a really good heart.

Lisa

You may want to get in touch with Locators Online. I learned of these folks during the tsunami disaster. Exchanged a couple emails with David and they seem like good people. I think their work is mainly helping connect people after disasters, but they may be able to help with one-off connections too.

They are also well located, as they are based in Cyprus, so have lots of contacts in the middle east.

http://www.locators-online.org/elocate.htm

http://www.locators-online.org/contact.htm
David T. Thomas, Executive Director
david@locators-online.org + 90 533 863 7922

David!!! You are absolutely brilliant!

Lisa

Hey Matt,

Are you able to post a link to the PDF poster of your sister?

That might make it easy for people to link to and email to others.

If you're not sure how to do that, just get someone you know who has a website to host it for you, and give you a link.

Good luck

One of my best friends went missing last year in Bolivia, same circumstances. It was 34 days before I found her having gone to Bolivia myself to find her. Chin up, hope for the best. My friend ran out of money in the middle of nowhere and thus "got stuck". Had to make jewelry to sell on the street to make bus fare back to "civilization". Good crowd on LP Missing Traveller's forum. They can help.

You are doing the right thing. Get the media involved, but give them facts and hopefully they don't screw it up too much. They can hinder your search I found out the hard way. If you know any politicians, that gives some help when you need an extra nudge in the Foreign Affairs department. Track IP addresses, get access to her email, send emails to those she had contact with...but in the end, I'd jump on a plane myself and start looking on the ground for her.

Start at the last known place and work in multiple directions if you have to. The cops in Canada can't do too much and unless you have the constant ear of Foreign Affairs a missing traveller isn't too high on their list of things to do. Put someone else in charge back home and get on the ground in Syria with your latest intel and just go like a madman. Most people in Syria are illiterate so posting notices in Arabic obviouisly helps but you need pix as well. Contact local area media "Al Jeezera (sp)".

Send missing notices to every single backpackers in Syria, Jordan, Israel, Egypt and Turkey. Get a Lonely Planet and most places list emails and/ or fax numbers. I'm in Egypt now and will print this off and post in some of the hostels here in Egypt on the off chance she has made it this way or someone has bumped into her along the way.

Good luck mate. Hope this works out OK.

Ralph
shankland_the_dog -at- hotmail.com

It is not the same in syria..
if you are lost there and need money.. trust me.. all ppl will help you and give you money or ride..

I am in Amman at the moment, but heading to Damascus tomorrow. I will be staying with friends, who are local Syrians, and will certainly see what information I can find out and get back to you. I will see if they have heard anything and see if there is someway they can help. My thoughts are with you and I hope I will be able to help in some way.

I'm sure it's important to have a human do the critical translations, but I found this English-to-Arabic and Arabic-to-English translation tool. I don't read a spot of Arabic, but it seems like it works pretty good.

Might be something you can use if you are trying to search sites in Arabic, if you get any communications in Arabic you can't read, or if you need to fire off a quick email to someone.

http://www.appliedlanguage.com/free_translation.shtml

Continued wishes of good luck

I have posted the CBC story about your sister at both my blogs. I wanted to let you know this information. Holly's Fight for Justice http://fightforjustice.blogspot.com, Holly's Fight to Stop Violence http://fighttostopviolence.blogspot.com
I wish you find her soon.
God Bless Holly Desimone

Hi Matt,

In case it is useful, here is an excellent map of the area.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/63/Syria_2004_CIA_map.jpg

I just caught the story on cbc newsworld and couldn't believe my eyes when I saw her picture. I was a friend of Nicole's at North Toronto C.I. when we went there together, she was in the year behind me but we had many mutual friends over a few class years. I wish I had some help to offer other than my hopes she is found alive and well. We all know that putting yourself out there in the world can be a bit risky, (I got taken for $1500 in an elaborate scam in Thailand and I thought I was savvy), but it was no surprise to hear that she became a brave world traveller. She always carried herself with self reliance back then, if she's anything as tough now she has some good odds in her favour.

I hope i can help you ... i am canadian syrian, i still have family and friends there and i speak arabic beside that i know a lot about the country .. please let me know

Hi Matt..

I have Emailed Syria-news with the story and a link to this website for the second time. but it seems they need some time for their own investigation. I'm trying also to see if other Arabic newspapers might publish the Story. I'll also email some of the posters to some friends living in the Hama region and to some university students in the Area.
Good Luck

Perhaps she got lost on her way to her destination. Transportation and communications in Syria are very difficult in remote areas. I am originally Syrian and was there about 5 years ago. I found the people extremely kind and generous over there even to foreigners(especially when I told them I am from Canada). They do not have search and rescue teams as we have here though. I strongly suggest you go there, rent a car and try to find her.