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South Sudan, Afghanistan, Syria, Libya, and Somalia have emerged as the riskiest nations, according to the 2024 risk map crafted by International SOS, a medical and security consultancy. This annual map amalgamates various factors to provide insights to travelers and businesses about potential threats worldwide.
- Top Riskiest Nations: South Sudan, Afghanistan, Syria, Libya, and Somalia
- Factors Considered: Medical and security risks, ongoing conflicts, climate change dangers
- Incorporating Climate Risks: New addition to annual risk map
- Surge in Climate Alerts: Linked to rising temperatures and health risks
- Data Source: Inform collaboration for climate change risk estimation
- Expert Insight: Dr. Irene Lai on increasing extreme heat events globally
- Evaluation Criteria: Five-level scale for medical, security, and climate risks
- High Security Risk Nations: Ukraine, Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan
- Escalating Risks in Other Regions: Lebanon, Palestinian Territories, Russia, Sahel, Ecuador, parts of Colombia
- Improved Ratings: El Salvador, parts of Nepal show decreased risk
- Safest Region: Europe highlighted, with countries like Iceland, Luxembourg, and Switzerland
- Very High Medical Risk Nations: Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, North Korea, Haiti
- Very High Climate Risk Nations: Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, various African countries
- United Kingdom Rating: “Low” risk across all categories
The ratings are based on medical and security risks, taking into account ongoing conflicts like those in Ukraine and between Israel and Hamas. For the first time, the map incorporates ratings related to climate change dangers. This addition comes as International SOS observed a surge in climate-related alerts due to escalating health risks worldwide triggered by rising temperatures.
Data compiled by Inform, a collaboration between the Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change and the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission, estimates the future risk of humanitarian crises and disasters arising from climate change. Dr. Irene Lai, global medical director at International SOS, highlights the increasing frequency of extreme heat events, citing the recent heatwave Cerberus in Europe as a potential norm.
Countries were evaluated on a five-level scale for medical, security, and climate change risks. Nations like Ukraine, Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan received the highest security warning level of “extreme.” Security risks also escalated in parts of Lebanon, the Palestinian Territories, Russia, and the Sahel, alongside Ecuador and parts of Colombia due to increased criminal activity and unrest.
Conversely, El Salvador and parts of Nepal saw decreased risk ratings due to sustained improvements across various risk factors. Europe emerged as the safest region, with countries like Iceland, Luxembourg, and Switzerland topping the list.
In terms of medical risk, countries like Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan were labeled “very high” risk, along with others including Yemen, North Korea, and Haiti. Similarly, nations facing “very high” risk from climate change included Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan, among others in Africa and beyond. The United Kingdom received a “low” rating across all three risk categories, affirming its relatively safer status compared to the aforementioned regions.
