Expats evacuated from Yemen with the assistance of International SOS and Control Risks

International SOS and Control Risks are providing evacuation assistance to member organisations with expatriate employees in Yemen.
 
The evacuation assistance follows the recommendation from International SOS and Control Risks for member clients to evacuate any remaining staff from the country. 
 
The triggers for advising evacuation were: The commencement of international military action, the expansion of the conflict to most urban centres, the further breakdown of law and order in some cities, and the consequent severe reduction of availability of healthcare services.
 
“Our role is to enable organisations to do business in challenging or remote locations whilst meeting their duty of care to their employees,” said Julian Moro, Regional Security Director, International SOS and Control Risks. “Operating in a country like Yemen requires careful management of medical and security risks to employees.”  
 
Air travel out of Yemen is very limited with infrequent flights occurring on short notice and only with government approval. Most overland routes are subject to significant security threats. International SOS and Control Risks advised members to stand fast in secure locations and be prepared to move with 30 minutes notice whilst preparations were made for the evacuations. As Yemen is classed as Extreme within the International SOS and Control Risks travel safety rating, member clients were prepared to respond, or had already taken their staff out of Yemen.
 
International SOS and Control Risks began issuing daily analysis on the situation in Yemen to their clients following last week’s initiation of the Saudi Arabia-led Operation Decisive Storm. Client communications and response actions are being led by the International SOS Regional Security Centre in Dubai.
 
Organisations that had staff in Yemen included energy, construction and telecommunications companies.
 
International SOS and Control Risks advise clients to defer all further travel to Yemen until further notice. They have advised against non-essential travel to Yemen since 2012.
 
Members with concerns about developments in Yemen can contact one of the 27 International SOS assistance centres. Detailed and regularly updated travel security information is available to members through the Members Zone at www.internationalsos.com  and via the International SOS assistance app.