A complimentary webinar series
Keeping Your Global Workforce Healthy, Safe and Secure Anywhere in the World:
A Regional Travel Security & Medical Perspective
A Focus on India: Common Tripwires to Avoid
Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2015
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Speakers
Jawahar Kr
Manager, TravelWatch – India
International SOS and Control Risks
Aditya Luthra
Regional Information Analyst, Asia-Pacific
International SOS and Control Risks
Peter Piazza, (Moderator)
Vice President, Strategic Operations,
ASIS International
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Agenda
• Overview: Travel security risk ratings and key concerns
• Specific concerns:
• Terrorism
• Social Unrest
• Crime
• Road Traffic Accidents
• Insurgency
• Q&A session
Source: Michael T. Burkhart
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© 2015 AEA International Holdings Pte. Ltd. For permission to reprint contact International SOS.
Overview
•
•
•
India is a MEDIUM travel risk
destination
Parts of the country are rated as HIGH
risks:
– The Kashmir Valley
– The Red Corridor
– The Northeast
Primary concerns:
– Terrorism (nationwide)
– Social Unrest (nationwide)
– Crime (nationwide)
– Road Traffic Accidents (nationwide)
– Insurgency (India-administered
Kashmir state, the Red Corridor,
and the Northeast)
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Terrorism: Not if but When and Where
•
Islamist terrorism is a persistent, nationwide threat.
•
Attacks largely carried out by domestic group, though
strong nexus with regional militant groups based in
Pakistan and growing connection with AQ.
•
Bombings in poorly secured public areas, such as
crowded marketplaces, public transport, religious
places of worship more likely than high-profile,
coordinated attacks like Mumbai 2008.
•
Pre-trip verbal/written security briefings to plan
itineraries in relations to flashpoint periods
•
Where possible minimize exposure to potential
targets
•
Key: Distinguishing fact from rumor,
official/corroborated information from hype –
reaching out to security specialist through the 24/7
Assistance Center during trip or extended
deployments.
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Social Unrest: The Communal Cauldron to Expand
•
Social unrest occurs regularly and is triggered by
an unlimited number of factors.
•
However, of particular concern, the frequency and
geographic scope of communal violence likely to
expand.
•
Will remain localized incidents, away from central
business districts.
•
Unlikely to target foreigners and primary concern
will be implication on mobility.
•
Risk of exposure greatest during local travel –
need for journey planning.
•
Keeping flexible work and travel options during
ongoing crisis.
•
Awareness of local religious and cultural
sensitivities – avoiding public discussions.
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Crime: A Focus on Women’s Safety
•
The major cities of India register as moderate-to-high crime rate.
Most of this crime is petty and opportunistic.
•
Focus on crimes against women:
•
•
Sexual harassment
•
Sexual assault
•
Handbag theft
Mitigating risk for women:
– Safe transport and proper accommodation selection
– Avoid unwanted attention
– Use emergency apps, self-defense measures and travel
awareness training for women
•
General:
– Seek pre-travel briefings about crime risks, hotspots
– Carry what is required during local travel
– Store important documents
– Don’t panic, don’t resist, hand over
– REACT – RECOVER – REPORT
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Road Traffic Accidents
•
Road traffic conditions in India are chaotic.
•
More than 130,000 road deaths per year.
•
Road deaths due to low regard for traffic rules, poor
infrastructure in rural areas and drunk driving.
•
Seek advice on safe modes of transport – avoid
certain public transport. Do not self-drive unless
extremely familiar with local driving conditions.
•
Pre-book good vehicle and experienced driver. Ensure
monitoring and control of driver during journey –
speeding, fatigue, alert to traffic?
•
Seat belts, car type based on journey route, seating.
•
Caution, warn and take action for violation of traffic
safety.
•
Knowing what to do if involved in an accident – threat
from angry crowds.
•
Remember: Distance: Air
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Rail
Road
Insurgency: Festering Conflict in the Kashmir Valley
Militancy
Benign travel security
environment to endure
Periodic cross-border firing to
recur along Line of Control
and International Border
•
Most violence consists of attacks against
government and security force
personnel/infrastructure
•
Tourist infrastructure is unlikely to be targeted.
•
Violence more likely in rural areas
•
Associated risk: cross-border fire
Social Unrest
•
Particularly frequent in Srinagar
•
Consists largely of stone-pelting and marches
•
The security forces can respond with tear gas,
rubber bullets, and possibly live ammunition
Rule of Thumb
•
Avoid or minimize exposure to security force
and government personnel, convoys and
installations.
•
Careful journey planning factoring weather and
flashpoint periods.
Disruptive separatist activism
to persist
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Insurgency: Leftist Rebels in the Red Corridor
Most affected
districts : 24
3
8
3
2
8
Eastern
Maharashtra
•
The ‘Red Corridor' runs through to large parts of
central and eastern India.
•
Violence consists of targeting security force interests,
transport infrastructure and industrial facilities.
•
Shutdown strikes and route blockades pose key risks.
•
Air travel to capital cities in Red Corridor – daylight
train travel for longer journeys and daylight road
movement for shorter inter-district trips.
•
Vary routes and routines during extended deployment.
Exercise utmost discretion in sharing information.
•
Avoid going out of secure accommodation/ project sites
unless with security support.
•
Postpone travel during rebel-called shutdown strikes
and road blockades.
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Insurgency: Separatism in the Northeast
•
Militant activity in the Northeast rarely targets
foreigners.
•
Business travelers are more likely to be affected by
the imposition of blockades and shut-down strikes.
•
Factor poor infrastructure, limited assistance
capability into journey and deployment plans.
•
Minimize exposure to security force personnel,
convoys and checkpoints in cities and on key
routes.
•
Limit highway travel due to poor road and
dangerous driving conditions and limited roadside
assistance.
•
Plan travel outside high-risk periods such as
seasonal monsoon.
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Key Takeaways
1
2
3
• A broad range of travel security
challenges to endure
• Information, information, information
• Journey planning is essential
Naxal insurgency
Kashmir
Terrorism
4
• Ensure your response capabilities
are appropriate/scalable
Religious violence
Major
accidents
Election campaigns
Protests
Kidnapping
Crime against women
Bandhs
5
• Don’t forget plans B and C
Transport
strikes
Petty crime
Militancy in northeast
Natural disasters
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Resources
• cso.asisonline.org
•
Join the conversation at
dialoguesondutyofcare.com
go.internationalsos.com/TravelWatch-India
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Q&A, Contact Info, Upcoming Engagements
• International SOS Assistance Center: +1-215-942-8226
+1-800-523-8661 or +1-215-942-8000
• TravelWatch India: +91 (11) 4060 8696 [email protected]
Contact Information
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McCashin and Patrick Deroose will present at this conference.
• March 28-31: 14th European Security Conference & Exhibition | CSO
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• April 20: URMIA’s Northeastern Regional Conference (Boston)
Matthew Bradley will present on evacuation planning.
• April 22: MERC (Minnesota Employee Relocation Council)
Conference (Minneapolis) Mike Reedy will present on Duty of Care.
• April 26-29: RIMS Annual Conference (New Orleans) Dr. Quigley and
Mike Reedy will present on Brazil; Frank Baron will present on Duty of
Care and Return on Prevention; Dr. Quigley will present on Ebola and
other outbreaks.
• May 18-19: 8th Annual CSO Roundtable Summit (Miami)
• April 3: Next Generation Security Threats (ASIS CSO Roundtable)
• April 21: Prevent the Drama: Prepare for What’s Next (International
Corporate Health Leadership Council)
• April 22: Principles for Strategic Thinking for Enterprise Security
(ASIS CSO Roundtable)
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