International SOS

International SOS recently conducted a trip to Angola, a MEDIUM-risk security environment, to assess the in-country security situation, accommodation options and provider capability. Phil Nolan, Security Director, Assistance covering East Africa, has compiled tips to help workforce who may be planning a business trip to Angola, to help them prepare for their journey and outline what they should ex...

Since conflict broke out between Hamas and Israel on 7 October the situation continues to evolve.  Our team at International SOS have been assessing the implications of the conflict in the surrounding countries and the wider region, and the impact it may have on organisations we work with.

An incident management team from International SOS has been in Israel since Tuesday as part of our response to the conflict with Hamas. Security Manager Benedikt Zimmermann is part of the team that is assessing the situation on the ground and supporting our clients with land and air movements. 

As the Israel-Hamas conflict evolves, Security Directors Paul Doucet and Adam Lakhani, who are leading the International SOS response, talk through our analysis of the risks, our advice, and how we are supporting clients. Security Manager Benedikt Zimmermann, deployed to Israel, also gives us his assessment of the situation on the ground.

Following the conflict between by Palestinian Hamas fighters and Israel, Rory Keith, International SOS's lead security analyst for Israel and the Palestinian Territories, provides our assessment of the fast-moving situation. International SOS is currently recommending people should defer all in bound travel to Israel until 11 October. We advise that those in country should remain until the situati...

In this new series we spotlight the countries where our clients have operations, offices, employees, travellers and assignees. We kick off with the US as this is where the organisations we work with have most employees and operational exposure. Our experts will discuss geopolitics, security, crime and medical concerns and look at emerging issues, upcoming significant events like the 2024 election,...

International SOS has lowered its Security Risk Rating for El Salvador, formerly one of the world’s most violent countries, from HIGH to MEDIUM. Lead Security Analyst for Mexico and Central America Raul Iglesias, who recently conducted an in-country assessment, explains what has changed and the challenges that remain. 

In August, Japan's Fukushima nuclear power plant began releasing contaminated water that has been collected, treated and stored on site after a powerful earthquake triggered a tsunami in 2011. There is concern from the public and some neighbouring countries, though the International Atomic Energy Agency says it will not have a significant radiological impact on people and the environment. In this...

On 18 September, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau claimed links between India and the killing of a Canada-based Sikh separatist leader in June, escalating diplomatic tensions with India. Lead Security Analysts John McMurray (North America and the Caribbean) and Anugya Chitransh (South Asia) provide insight into the impact of the tensions on security and travel for Indian nationals in Canada...

Hostilities broke out in Nagorno-Karabakh once more this week, when Azerbaijan launched a 24 hour security operation to disarm ethnic Armenian separatists in the region. Our Lead Security Analyst for Armenia and Azerbaijan, Louise Hogan, gives us the latest situation update, an assessment of what happens next for the region and advice for people in country. 

An outbreak of Nipah virus has been confirmed in the southern Indian state of Kerala. Six cases have been confirmed and two people have died from the infection in the Kozhikode district. The virus is transmitted from animals, such as fruit bats and pigs, to humans. It can also be transmitted through contaminated food and through contact with an infected person. International SOS’ Deputy Medical Di...

Women face many unique risks and challenges compared with other travellers. In areas such as Sub-Saharan Africa, they could include sexual harassment and assault, criminal activity or inadvertent violations of cultural and societal norms. In this podcast, designed to help managers and business travellers prepare for their forthcoming trip to countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, we discuss some of the...

This year's bushfires season in Australia is expected to be the most significant since the ‘Black Summer’ fires of 2019-20. Although they can happen at any point in the year, the most significant threat to operations occurs between September and February, when areas close to major population centres will be most at risk. International SOS' Senior Security Specialist Jack Eddy and Me...

A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Morocco late on Friday 8 September causing considerable damage in Marrakesh and many other towns. In remote mountain areas, entire villages have been severely damaged. International SOS’ Security Director for Assistance Erika Weisbrod and Adam Lakhani, Security Director, Information and Analysis, explain how we are supporting the organisations we work with and hel...

The G20 Summit will be held from 9 to 10 September at Pragati Maidan in the capital New Delhi. Extensive security measures and associated traffic restrictions will significantly impact overland travel and commercial operations across the city and adjoining areas in the National Capital Region. International SOS’ South Asia Editor Anugya Chitransh gives us her assessment of what business travellers...

Hurricane Idalia is making landfall in Florida state. International SOS sent a Crisis Management Team to assess the situation on the ground and assist clients. Jeremy Prout, Director of Security Solutions, who deployed as part of that team has set out for us what the team is hoping to achieve and our advice for clients.

Amid the coup in Niger, with airspace closed, International SOS helped our clients to keep their people safe by assisting them in leaving the country. Despite testing the overland route the evacuation was not without its challenges, but careful contingency planning helped to ensure the mission ended in success. Benedikt Zimmermann, Security Manager for Assistance covering West and C...

Fast-spreading wildfires have caused significant damage on the Hawaiian   island of Maui. Severe infrastructure and property damage has been reported in the historic seaside town Lahaina, and thousands of residents and visitors had to be evacuated from the west side of the island. International SOS’s Director of Security Intelligence in the Americas, Mike Rogers and Senior Security Specialist...

Amid the ongoing coup in Niger, International SOS is working closely with organisations who have workforce in the country to provide them with the latest information, support and options to leave. Security Director for Assistance Erika Weisbrod and Director of Medical and Security Assistance Air Transport Services Clive Gillard explain how we are able to help as airspace and land border evacuation...

In June, Russia’s foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, announced that private military contactor Wagner’s operations are likely to be absorbed into the Russian Ministry of Defence. International SOS’ Lead Security Analysts have been assessing the outlook for the group’s activities in parts of Africa and the Middle East, where its fighters have been active in the Central African Republic, Libya, Mali,...

On 26 July a group of soldiers detained President Mohamed Bazoum in the Presidential Palace and announced the suspension of the constitution and the dissolution of the government. Kirna Kataria, International SOS’ Lead Security Analyst for West and Central Africa and Security Specialist Ope Babatunde offer insight into our decision-making processes and what could happen next.  We discuss how...

Ethnic tensions in the Indian state of Manipur has led to unrest and thousands of people being forced to leave their homes. The army, paramilitary forces and police have been trying to stop the violence which began in May. It has led to disruption to fuel, food, internet and movement across the area. In June, International SOS was called in to help several organisations whose employees were strand...

Significant wildfires broke out across Greece in July, including on the island of Rhodes. The fires were exacerbated by strong winds and unusually high temperatures. Security Manager, Assistance Taylor El Hage explains how, as the wildfires spread on Rhodes, International SOS worked closely with our security partners in Greece to help clients to get to safety. 

Three months after an armed conflict between the Sudanese Army and the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group broke out, the situation in Sudan remains volatile. Most of the fighting is concentrated in Khartoum state, and Kordofan and Darfur regions of the country. International SOS’ lead security analyst Polina Vynogradova gives us her assessment of what is happening on the ground and offers adv...

International SOS recently conducted a trip to Israel and the West Bank to assess the in-country security situation. Our Security Director for Assistance, Erika Weisbrod and Security Specialist, Melissa Sanguinetti have compiled tips to help travellers who may be planning their first business trip to Israel on how to prepare for their journey and what they should expect while they are there.