It can be difficult to see past the terrible events that are happening in our own country, and all too easy to forget that at any one time, the risk of violence, unrest, kidnap and piracy are real, and the threat levels high, across the globe.
The fact remains that despite a series of recent attacks which lead to a temporary heightened terror threat level of “severe”, the UK, along with Canada, Japan, Botswana, most of Europe, and perhaps surprisingly, the Falkland Islands and South Korea pose “insignificant” threats to natives and visitors.
For the following countries, the outlook is very different. In light of the NYA’s Global Threat Map, we look at the countries which present real dangers to those living and travelling to the regions:
1. Venezuala
Threats: Political Instability, Violent Crimes, Kidnapping
2. Nigeria
Threats: Civil Conflict, Kidnap and Ransom, Political Corruption
3. Somalia
Threats: Terrorism, Kidnap
4. South Sudan
Threats: Civil War, Political Instability and Corruption, Theft, Kidnap and Ransom
5. Yemen
Threats: Kidnap, Militant Attacks
6. Pakistan
Threats: Terrorism, Political Instability, Violent Crime, Kidnap and Ransom, Sectarian Violence
7. Iraq
Threats: Sectarian Conflict, Corruption, Terrorism, Kidnap and Ransom
8. Syria
Threats: Militant Attacks, Kidnapping, Terrorism, Humanitarian Crisis, Lack Of Law Enforcement
9. Turkey
Threats: Political Instability, Civil Unrest, Terrorism
10. Libya
Threats: Terrorism, Militancy, Political Instability and Ineffective Security
Instances of kidnapping are highest in Asia at 44%, while piracy is more common in West Africa, which accounts for 41% of attacks, criminal boarding, suspicious approach and other instances of piracy reported across the globe.
In 2015 the Home Office revised the 2000 UK Terrorism Act to make it illegal for insurance companies to reimburse ransoms paid to known terrorist organisations.
However, this has had little impact on the scope of kidnap and ransom insurance policies, as UK insurers were already prohibited from providing funds for terrorist.
What kidnap and ransom does provide, is additional support for those operating in risky regions where piracy is rife, and in those circumstances, this cover can be essential.
Rather than reimbursing a ransom, the policy provides expertise in the form of negotiators and local support; it is the expenses of this support and payments for injury and losses sustained which is reimbursed.