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A recent study has unveiled the most perilous countries to travel to in 2024.
According to International SOS, a medical and security consultancy, South Sudan, Afghanistan, Syria, Libya, and Somalia have been identified as the most dangerous countries on the 2024 risk map.
The yearly map evaluates different elements to provide travelers and companies with information about possible risks in countries around the world.
This combines medical and security risk assessments, showing the effects of events like the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and between Israel and Hamas.
For the first time this year, the map now features evaluations that take into account the hazards of climate change. This decision was made by International SOS due to an increase in climate-related notifications being sent to clients, as higher temperatures globally pose greater health risks in various parts of the world.
The information, gathered by Inform (a partnership between the Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change and the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission), forecasts the potential danger of humanitarian crises and disasters due to climate change.
Dr. Irene Lai, the global medical director at International SOS, stated that the extreme heat events experienced this year, including the first named heatwave Cerberus hitting Europe, could become more frequent in the future. This serves as just one example.
Besides the tangible consequences of intense heat, there can also be detrimental effects on one’s mental well-being. It is crucial for businesses to prepare for this and adjust our lifestyles and work practices to safeguard our health, as well as take measures to mitigate and ultimately reverse the increase in global temperatures.
The level of risk for each category – medical, security, and climate change – was assessed on a scale of five levels, ranging from “low” to “very high” for medical and climate change, and from “insignificant” to “extreme” for security.
The countries of Ukraine, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Yemen, South Sudan, Central African Republic, and Somalia all received the top warning level of “extreme” for security.
Security risk levels in areas of Lebanon, Palestinian Territories, Russia, and the Sahel region have all risen, as well as in Ecuador and some parts of Colombia due to a surge in criminal activity and civil disorder.
Risk levels for El Salvador and certain areas of Nepal have decreased due to continued declines in several risk factors.
The most secure nations in Europe are Iceland, Luxembourg, Norway, Switzerland, and Denmark.
The countries classified as “very high” risk in the medical category include Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, North Korea, Palestinian Territories, Haiti, Libya, Niger, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Sudan, South Sudan, Central African Republic, Eritrea, Burundi, and Somalia.
Some countries that are classified as “very high” risk in terms of climate change are Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, Chad, Niger, Mali, Nigeria, Central African Republic, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Mozambique.
The United Kingdom was given a “low” rating for all three risk categories.
Source: independent.co.uk