![]() Other organizations also provide safety information to groups such as Non Governmental Organisations and Humanitarian Aid Groups that work in war zones. In general, national governments strongly advise against visiting war zones for any reason, and only send diplomats and other official representatives into these areas when they are accompanied by security teams or are located in a well protected area. Even if your government, employer or family is willing to pay a ransom, some of the kidnappers would rather have a beheading video that helps publicise their cause than just get some money. ![]() Many national governments have a policy of not paying ransoms for citizens who are kidnapped to avoid (effectively) subsidising kidnapping. In some areas, such as Afghanistan and the southern Philippines, tourists are prime targets for kidnapping. Some may be specifically targeted because of their home country, religion or ethnic group. Indeed, tourists are a soft target, much easier to attack than the professionals. Tourists can be just as much a target of hostility as any military force. Even a tourist with no hostile intentions may provoke heated reactions among other things, you may be taken for a spy. If your country has military forces in the area or is supporting one side in the conflict, those groups are quite unlikely to think their mission includes protecting tourists but the other side is almost certain to consider you hostile. Going into such an area for tourism is a spectacularly bad idea since you may not have the training and will certainly not have the backup or protections that the professionals do. They may also be partly protected by diplomatic immunity, by press credentials, or by some symbol like a Red Cross or the blue helmets of UN peacekeepers. Usually, those people will have had special training and the organization will provide extensive support - almost always a professional security team and heavily-secured buildings, often armored vehicles and/or armed guards for any required travel. Some people must travel to these areas as part of their job these include soldiers, reporters, diplomats, military or security contractors, and often people employed by various governments, international agencies and NGOs to provide relief from some of the ravages of war, to deal with refugee problems, or to rebuild after a war. It is highly unusual for anyone other than professionals sent with a specific mission, or locals who cannot or will not leave, to be wandering around war zones.ĭiplomatic missions are typically unable to provide any assistance to their citizens who are travelling in war zones. ![]() War zones or former war zones, often called hostile environments, are distinctly dangerous. ![]() This article is for those who absolutely have to go, or who get caught somewhere when a conflict erupts suddenly. Other travellers should also consider avoiding them. For the vast majority of travellers, including all tourists, these areas should be avoided at all costs. WARNING: Do not visit a region in this category without seriously considering the risks and how to mitigate them. ![]()
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