International Executive Security Monitor

The FARC activities always puts Colombia in the top 10 worst for International Travel!

We are often asked to list the very worst countries for travel, not necessarily for kidnap and ransom insurance risk, but in general, encompassing all possible factors involving health, safety, and security.

Here is our list for 2009 for the highest risk for international travelers.

Haiti, Afghanistan, Iraq, Chechnya, Somalia, Congo, Yemen,
Nigeria, Philippines, Mexico / Brazil / Colombia (A three way tie.)

We all understand the general risks of traveling to Iraq and Afghanistan which goes beyond the need for kidnap and ransom insurance.  However, other countries on the list require more explanation.

It’s very unusual how bad  Haiti is, and continues to be from a traveler and tourist perspective.  The Dominican Republic, the other side of the island, is becoming a large tourist destination but Haiti can never seem to get it’s act together and ranks worst on our list this year.  From the U.S. Deptartment of State on Haiti:

Travel in Haiti can be dangerous and all visitors are urged to exercise vigilance and caution. In some cities and towns ordinary services such as water, electricity, police protection and government services are either very limited or unavailable. While a U.N. force has provided assistance to police  in Haiti since 2004, their presence does not guarantee absolute security for residents or visitors.

The U.S. mission in Haiti issues security related messages warning U.S. citizens of violent or unstable conditions and has been forced to suspend service to the public or close the Embassy because of security concerns.  These concerns have also prevented Embassy personnel from traveling to or through some areas. Since October 2004 Embassy personnel have been prohibited from entering central Port-au-Prince after dark due to security concerns. The Embassy has also imposed a curfew on its officers. As a result, the ability of Embassy officers to come to the aid of U.S. citizens in distress may be limited.  If situations occur where the Embassy must suspend operations or when officers are unable to travel freely, the Embassy will continue to be available by telephone to offer emergency services to U.S. citizens.

Incidents of violent demonstrations, looting, and transportation disruptions in Les Cayes and Port-au-Prince   resulted in several deaths.  In 2009 the Embassy issued several security related messages advising U.S. citizens to avoid downtown Port-au-Prince near the universities (Avenue Christophe, Rue Capois, and Avenue John Brown) when student demonstrators barricaded streets and threw rocks at passing cars, attracting a large police presence, which responded with tear gas and other forceful measures.  Demonstrations in Haiti often result in violence and require police intervention.  U.S. citizens are advised to avoid all demonstrations.   As a result of such civil unrest, U.S. citizens have been temporarily stranded in isolated locations and could not safely travel until calm was restored.  U.S. citizens are strongly advised to thoroughly consider the risks before traveling to Haiti and to take adequate precautions to ensure their safety if traveling to Haiti.

U.S. citizens in Haiti should avoid all large gatherings, as crowd behavior can be unpredictable. Visitors encountering roadblocks, demonstrations, or large crowds should remain calm and depart the area quickly and avoid confrontation. The Haitian National Police increased their visibility in 2009 and are gradually contributing to improving public security, especially in the metropolitan area of the capital,  However, assistance from Haitian authorities is often unavailable. U.S. citizens must be particularly cautious on days when there are political activities planned in Haiti. U.S. citizens are urged to take common-sense precautions and avoid any event where crowds may congregate.

Kidnap and ransom insurance is essential for anyone traveling to, or living in Haiti as an expatriate.

The Philippines is the land of 7,000 islands.   Some areas of this country are not recommended for traveling like North Cotabato, Mindanao, Zamboanga peninsula, Basilan, Tawi-Tawi and the Sulu archipelago. Apart from robberies and kidnappings there are other threats as well. Local people mix drugs in the drinks of the visitors which can make them unconscious in minutes. Some cases are reported where the tourists not only lose their wealth and also lose their body parts like kidneys.

We should mention Nigeria.  It is the most populous country of Africa. The people living here belong to over 200 different races which is the major cause of shaking economy. This country is also famous for its emails scams.  More than 220 oil workers have been kidnapped in this country and the issue had always been resolved by ransom money. According to reports, these foreign workers were working near the Niger Delta. The areas like Bakassi Peninsula, Bayelsa or the Delta are famous for kidnappings and habitat of armed gangs. There is high risk of getting infected by Malaria and AIDS/HIV. Travelers are also advised to be vaccinated against yellow fever before entering in the country.  Kidnap and ransom insurance is essential for anyone working or living, as a foreigner, in Nigeria especially if involved in the oil trade.