Thalia Cole and Jo Menzies, who previously did not know each other, formed a bond after meeting while sheltering-in-place from missile attacks in Qatar.
Ms. Menzies described the experience as scary and initially thought she was being dramatic about the first alert.
Ms. Menzies' Journey to Australia
Ms. Menzies traveled to Australian soil via a 16-hour bus ride to Riyadh, with subsequent transit through Jeddah, Kuala Lumpur, and finally Melbourne.
Reunion in Melbourne Amid Escalating Tensions
The pair have since reunited in Melbourne, with Ms. Cole joining Ms. Menzies, who had arrived earlier. Ms. Cole, who had resided in Doha for three years, decided to depart as regional tensions escalated. Her flight out of the country faced uncertainty, with alerts of imminent attacks occurring while the plane was on the runway.
Qatar: A Place of Varying Comfort
Ms. Menzies stated that Qatar remains a favorable place but noted varying levels of comfort among residents regarding the danger.