If COVID-19 has taught us one thing it is that one cannot take anything for granted. A lot of expats have had to be repatriated home. So, how do you prepare for needed to move back urgently when moving abroad?
Many scenarios can lead to emergency repatriation. Moving to a new place doesn't always bring better living conditions, and for the adventurers, like reporters, scientists, journalists, or mediators it can sometimes mean moving to a troubled country. Sometimes, however, you're in search of better living conditions but the situation deteriorates. So, how to be prepared for the worse when moving abroad?
The number of emergency repatriations has risen significantly in the last years because of the COVID-19 pandemic. To plan in times of crisis is generally a complicated task, even more so with possibly difficult infrastructure and lack of travel connections. However, there are many different ways to prepare for this kind of impromptu situation.
The motives for an emergency repatriation can vary and can be either personal or public emergencies. Personal reasons can be:
- Change of your work situation, like getting fired or maybe a closing of a company. This can affect your status in the country if you depend on documents as well as your financial plans.
- Visa issues that can be dependent on your work contract or on another migration factor, as not prolonging or ending a visa can mean that you cannot stay anymore in the country.
- Medical issues or emergencies that cannot be resolved in the current country.
- A change in family circumstances, when you have to take care of a family member in your country
Public reasons are more unpredictable and usually more difficult to handle as they affect all the society in that place. Some of those are:
- Political unrest or even war or riots.
- Natural disasters like the fires in Italy and Turkey, or in California which call for immediate evacuation of the citizens of those regions.
- Epidemics is probably a scenario that we are all very familiar with as during the beginning of the Covid pandemic when many expats were in the situation to move urgently back to their home country.
When it comes to personal emergencies there is a level of predictability which can help with the preparation. Visa related scenarios need to always be considered and discussed when making a work contract and well thought off beforehand in order to properly plan your resources and transportation. Additionally, you can always check with the local migration services or with an embassy in your country about the visa requirements.
Regarding medical emergencies, many insurance companies offer in their insurance packages emergency repatriation in urgent medical situations. This can be very useful if you are into adventurous sports in which a need for a helicopter or other means of transportation would otherwise be very expensive. Additionally, if your country of residence doesn't offer appropriate medical care it is good to consider an evacuation in case of a serious situation. In an urgent life threatening scenario you can decide to either be transferred to a place in close vicinity to your location that offers appropriate medical care, or to your home country.
In cases of public reasons for repatriation like political unrest, the scenario is much more complex as it can require time for preparation. When staying in a dangerous country it is important to find a company that offers help with emergency repatriation which will aid many difficult scenarios and will be available to assist you in overcoming the difficulties and remove yourself from a place of danger. When staying in a place with a potential or current war it is very important to get a specific training beforehand which should be monitored by the organisation in order to know what to do in a case of emergency. You'll need to make yourself familiar with all guidelines regarding immunization records and documents and also to have an emergency kit by your side such as torches, blankets and medical kits.
Oftentimes the repatriation help can also be provided by your country. A notable recent example was the surge of the COVID-19 pandemic, when it was the responsibility of the countries to evacuate their citizens in cases where the borders were closed. Therefore, it is always important to contact the consulate or the embassy of your country in order to understand what kind of help they are able to provide in urgent situations.
Finally, in situations of epidemics, or an uncertain natural disaster you can try to contact the authorities and the non-profit organisations that are available in the country you're currently in. Sometimes the insurance you have in the country can help you manage the situation without needing to move, or maybe the government will provide appropriate protection and shelter. EU countries for example offer help through the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations and in the US it is provided by the National Disaster Medical System. Southeast Asian countries receive help through Asean and Africaevac is a reference point for African countries.
There are also numerous international NGOs like UNHCR, The Red Cross, or Doctors Without Borders that may help you or assist you in finding a safer place to stay. Disastrous situations are more common than we think and in such scenarios you need to be aware of all the options while maintaining an alert and positive mindset that soon you will be in a safe place.
