Political and Natural Disaster Evacuation provides access to comprehensive emergency services overseas that enable organisations to take their employees out of harm’s way.

Human resource departments and risk managers face legislative and moral pressures in ensuring employee safety in the light of  increasing criminal and political extremism. In volatile areas, the situation can change from one of relative calm to life threatening with startling speed – with employees exposed to war, terrorism, civil unrest or natural disasters. The over-riding duty of the employer is to ensure that their employee, (and where also present, their families) are safe, often requiring their emergency evacuation to a place of safety. This can become both expensive and a logistical nightmare, where the usual infrastructure and support services have collapsed and rioting and civil unrest is prevalent.

POLITICAL AND NATURAL DISASTER EVACUATION INSURANCE

What’s included in the cover?

• Costs of an emergency evacuation in the event of war, terrorism, civil unrest, riots, coups, strikes, and natural disasters such as earthquake, volcanic eruption, tsunami, flood and wildfire
• Services of the consultancy and security team to arrange and provide logistical support and protection during the operation
• Transport to the nearest safe haven under security escort, and then onward travel, including food, lodging and other reasonable expenses en route, if required
• Provision of increased security in-country if this is deemed a more appropriate response
• Limits up to USD250,000 per person and USD10m per event.

WHO CAN BE COVERED?

Corporates, charities, NGOs and affinity groups (such as student travellers or as an added benefit to a customer group such as a credit/debit card issuer or travel loyalty program)
Individuals as part of stand-alone insurance policy or through an assistance style service
Packaged with Kidnap and Extortion insurance, Disability, Life and Medical covers as part of a Corporate Overseas Protection Insurance arrangement.

RISK MANAGEMENT

With the need to keep employees safe through prudent risk management, the onus is on directors and corporate bodies to provide a safe working environment. It is essential that contingency plans for such incidents are in place and are regularly tested and updated.

The consultants used under the coverage can support the internal risk management function within an organisation to protect employees whilst travelling or based overseas.

Typically, such a program could include:

Preparation

• Country risk due diligence
• Pre-deployment training
• Evacuation and contingency planning
• Crisis Response Team identification and training.

Assistance

• Medical and Security country risk information
• SMS/E-mail alerts
• Travel tracking.

Response

• Combined medical and security 24/7 response
• Co-ordination with client’s internal procedures.

Recovery

• Planned business resumption

ALESCO place risks from over 50 countries, adapting their offering across multiple international jurisdictions. Responding quickly to enquiries, the company deliver their quotes in a precise manner, and can adapt to diverse territories. ALESCO place risk on an insurance, reinsurance, exempt or non-admitted basis, or even through ‘off-shore’ providers where the need arises. The company utilise the London markets and wider international markets where required, utilising multiple facilities that enable them to quote and bind business quickly, ensuring that they place risk with suitable markets.

Other Special Risks insurance products offered include:

• Kidnap, Ransom and Extortion
• Medical Expenses and Evacuation/Repatriation
• Group Personal Accident and Illness
• Group Business Travel.

KeyFacts Energy Industry Directory: Alesco