Haiti, Nicaragua and the Rapid Deterioration of Security Environments
Over the last quarter, two significant episodes of civil unrest within the Latin American region have made international headlines and highlighted the security implications of a quick escalation of violence. Haiti and Nicaragua serve as similar case studies of the risks facing businesses and foreign nationals when a rapid deterioration of the security environment leads to a halt to commercial activities and the evacuation of travellers and personnel.
On the weekend of 6 July, widespread civil unrest broke out in Haiti following a series of sizable fuel price increases announced by the government, which were in compliance with International Monetary Fund (IMF) austerity recommendations. Violent demonstrations and public rioting quickly spread in and around Port-au-Prince, and reached other cities such Cap-Hatien. Over the course of the weekend, at least three people died, including a policeman attacked by rioters and a protester shot by security forces. Furthermore, numerous businesses and stores were looted and vandalised. Although the rioting abated by 9 July, a transport workers’ strike that same day saw travel and logistics come to a standstill, causing significant commercial disruptions and preventing locals and foreign nationals alike from travelling throughout the country. Specifically, numerous foreign nationals, including US foreign aid and religious workers, found themselves trapped and unable to safely leave the country. This predicament was exacerbated after various flights to the international airport in the capital were cancelled. The US State department – which has already authorised the extraction of non-essential US government personnel – advised stranded citizens to find shelter where they could while the unrest continued.
Similarly, in Nicaragua, the overhaul of the state pension system in April triggered mass protesting, which quickly escalated into a country-wide anti-government insurrectionary movement and significant political violence. The uprising has left at least 200 people dead to date, including anti-government activists, state security officials and members of pro-government paramilitary mobs. Furthermore, there have been numerous cases of looting, vandalism and the destruction of property throughout the capital and other major cities. The deterioration of the security environment triggered a number of evacuation and disengagement plans for foreign nationals residing in the country. For example, the US Peace Corps evacuated 160 personnel within the country, while non-essential personnel from the US embassy in Managua were flown out of the country over security concerns.
In both cases, the rapid escalation from protest movement to rioting and political violence was likely driven by existing underlying political tensions. In the case of Haiti, widespread poverty and the piecemeal reconstruction of the country since the 2010 earthquake and 2016’s Hurricane Matthew has undermined popular support for the government, while in Nicaragua the reforms carried out by the increasingly authoritarian Daniel Ortega government have soured support from both the citizenry and business communities. However, from the outside, such indicators may not be readily visible. In Nicaragua’s case, for example, the country had experienced year-on-year growth in foreign direct investment between 2016 and 2017, with tourism numbers increasing by almost 22 percent between 2015 and 2017. Yet security environments can change very quickly, and at short notice. It is thus important for travellers and commercial entities with business interests in volatile jurisdictions such as Haiti and Nicaragua to maintain an ongoing awareness of the local underlying socio-political tensions and their security implications. In so doing, the requisite prevention measures can be put in place to both mitigate against and prepare for a quick change in the security environment.
When faced with a rapidly deteriorating environment, the need to evacuate personnel safely and effectively can often occur quickly with limited or no warning.
Practical advice for travellers and businesses
When faced with a rapidly deteriorating environment, the need to evacuate personnel safely and effectively can often occur quickly with limited or no warning. It is therefore imperative to have a robust and agile evacuation plan in place that is designed to keep you safe as you exit the country. Events of this nature will quickly limit access to commercial travel and transport hubs, and an increase in risk from civil unrest or inaccessibility due to a natural disaster is commonplace.
In order to mitigate against the risk of being caught up in an increasingly volatile environment, some useful indicators to watch out for include travel warnings and advisories issues by foreign governments, signs of foreign embassies closing operations, or increasing volumes of individuals leaving the country. Travelers should therefore maintain a close eye on local and international news media so as to stay abreast of such developments, and ensure they are registered with in-country embassies or consulates. If safe and feasible, one should use commercial travel means to depart before the situation deteriorates into chaos, or be ready to move at short or no notice. Commercial entities should initially consider the evacuation of non-essential staff, families and dependents; however, operators should consider the perception and reputational issues of fleeing a country in turmoil, whilst leaving local employees in situ. Furthermore, in the event that the situation has already deteriorated, one should avoid government buildings, military installations, demonstrations and check points, and endeavor to keep a low profile.
Evacuation plans are essential for all expatriates living in developing countries. Expatriates should take advantage of their governments’ evacuation assistance and not ignore their advice. Evacuations can entail a great deal of planning to complete safely, so preparation is essential. Expatriates should ensure they are suitably stocked with essential survival items: food, water, first aid supplies and means of communication, while preparing only limited luggage in the event of an evacuation. Travel documents should also always be kept up to date and stored in an easily accessible location.
S-RM’s Global Crisis Response Team are strategically positioned to provide 24/7/365 access to our Crisis Response experts, whose guidance, detailed planning and understanding of the situation will navigate you through the incident and back to safety.