Foto: (cc) Medhus/Flickr

There is an ever-increasing number of criminal attacks on members of NGOs. It takes professional crisis management to ensure that no one gets hurt when criminals take hostages.

The number of violent attacks on members of humanitarian aid organizations continued to be at an alarming level in 2012: the new "Aid Worker Security Report 2013", published by the organization Humanitarian Outcomes, lists 272 victims among aid workers in crisis regions for 2012. They were killed, wounded or kidnapped during their international aid missions. Dr. Walter provides professional crisis management in the form of an insurance solution we have developed for hostage situations and specifically aiming at NGOs.

Kidnapping as a business model
In some parts of the world, kidnapping has almost become a business model. The victims are not wealthy individuals, however, but in a growing number of cases the victims are members of aid organizations. For 2012, the record lists 91 cases in which aid workers were kidnapped. The number of unreported cases is probably much higher, since hostage situations where no one gets hurt and that end well are often not mentioned in the news. The majority of kidnappings take place in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, South Sudan and Somalia. There is no reliable data yet for Syria, but we can assume a high number of victims among humanitarian workers in the civil war torn country.

Cooperation with international crisis teams
As an expert in insuring business travel and stays abroad, we have recognized the need for protection against criminal assaults. When humanitarian workers get kidnapped, the kidnappers usually demand a ransom. In order to meet their demands, it is not only necessary to provide liquidity but also to ensure professional crisis management. For this purpose, an international crisis team develops strategies to free the hostage. It stays in contact with the kidnappers, provides counsel to the victim’s family and relatives and assists the authorities and the media during and after the kidnapping.

EU-Commissioner demands better protection for aid workers
On the occasion of the World Humanitarian Day, the European Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, Kristalina Georgieva, demanded better protection for aid workers. "The world needs more respect and protection for humanitarian aid workers", said Georgieva. When humanitarian organizations are forced to leave a disaster area because of high insecurity, the communities left behind pay the price.

To Aid Worker Security Report 2013

Information on Kidnap & Ransom Insurance by Dr. Walter