These are the 10 Riskiest Places to Travel Abroad
While travelling is a great experience and exposure to different cultures can be very enriching, there are also many risks involved while travelling.
Your annual travel insurance should be able to cover unprecedented events that occur while you’re abroad; however, safety precautions should still take precedence. Your annual travel insurance policy does not cover expenses incurred in a country that your government has explicitly declared as risky or dangerous to travel to.
In the United States, the Bureau of Consular Affairs (U.S. Department of State) gives frequent travel advisories and gives the safety and security levels to citizens traveling to specific countries. In the United Kingdom, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is tasked to give proper guidance on which countries are deemed safe for UK citizens to go to. Both of these government offices advise against travelling to countries that they consider unsafe, such as countries that have war and conflict zones or experiencing civil unrest, or countries that have the risk of a natural disaster or sickness epidemic.
Here is a list of the 10 riskiest places to travel abroad:
1. Syria
To date, Syria is considered to have the biggest humanitarian crises in the world. There are thousands of Syrians who flee the country everyday due to political and civil instability. The country is essentially in ruins. There is also little access to clean drinking water and sanitation facilities in the country.
2. South Sudan
Political and ethnic fighting in this country has escalated in recent years, with no hope of peace foreseen in the near future. There have been a great number of journalists who have been killed in the line of duty. Carjackings and muggings are also rampant in the country.
3. Yemen
War continues to rage in this Middle Eastern country, where terrorist groups continually attack government facilities, public areas and transportation hubs. Kidnapping and suicide bombings are also rampant here.
4. Somalia
In Somalia, there is rampant terrorism and kidnappings of westerners. In the city of Mali, there are terrorist groups who specifically target westerners in night clubs, restaurants, and hotels. There are also rampant murders of civilians.
5. Indonesia
Increased caution is advised for people traveling to Indonesia because of terrorism and natural disasters such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and tsunamis. Visitors have also experienced loss of valuables in crowded areas such as shopping malls, bars, and restaurants.
6. Venezuela
There is current political upheaval in Venezuela. There are shortages in food, water, and medical supplies. The U.S. State Department deems it as a “Do Not Travel” zone. Thousands are Venezuelans are actually seeking help from neighboring South American countries.
7. North Korea
Despite strong warnings not to travel to this country, thousands of westerners still go to North Korea. There are ongoing tensions between many western nations, particularly the United States, with North Korea. An American student mysteriously died in the country in 2017. It is better to avoid travelling to North Korea.
8. Libya
Traveling to Libya is dangerous because of crime, kidnapping, and armed conflict in the country. If you still choose to go to the country, you should consider your security arrangements carefully.
9. Pakistan
There are certain areas of Pakistan that are considered dangerous for travelers and not safe for tourists. Those arriving in the country without a valid visa may be subject to fine, deportation or even incarceration.
10. Iraq
Although there are parts of the country that are relatively safe to visit, there are still areas in Iraq that are vulnerable to terrorist violence. There is a high risk for westerners to be kidnapped or attacked.
