MSM: Uninsurable travel destinations

Image courtesy of Evil Yoda
It’s one thing to travel to faraway lands to experience a culture so far from your own that you discover a life-enriching journey; but it’s another thing to travel to a destination which is so alien to your own life, that even your basic human rights are stripped of you.
There are places in this world which don’t want to be discovered, and even the most hard-core travellers can’t handle. As such, the government issues warnings against travel to those destinations which are deemed a critical danger, and you’ll struggle trying to get worldwide travel insurance.
Take Afghanistan for example, with remnants of the former Taliban regime still presiding in many places across the country; the threat of westerners being kidnapped or violently attacked is prominent. If you’re adamant that you still want to go despite government warnings; make sure you get all the relevant vaccinations, visas, and thoroughly study the country before going.
Liberia is another country which is generally uninsurable. One of the poorest countries in the world, Liberia doesn’t have many of the basic services we’ve come to expect; such as power, water, and sewerage. Whilst this may sound like a back-packers dream, remember that another basic service they fail to have is a police force. Therefore, armed robberies with a machete or a knife are almost standard practise, traffic laws are non-existent, and there is a violent political rally or street demonstration nearly every day.
The Department of State has also warned US citizens of travelling to Sudan, Africa, due to its unstable and violent political situation. With a strong terrorist threat against western interests, the danger of violent crime, kidnapping, armed robberies, home-invasions, and car-jacking is critical. It’s not uncommon for violence to break out between armed militia groups and Sudanese military forces. If you really have to go, the advice is to keep a low profile and avoid all travel to the Darfur region.
Recently, Libya has become an uninsurable destination after the US suspended all embassy operations in February. Due to on-going violence and a worsening security situation, the government has advised against all travel to Libya. With the knowledge that extremist groups continue to plan terrorist attacks against any US tourists, travelling here would only end in disaster. Women routinely face verbal harassment and it’s illegal to even take pictures in some places; not exactly the cultural enlightenment you’d dream of!
Remember that travel to these destinations are uninsurable for a reason; they are dangerous and pose an imminent threat to your life. Travelling is a wonderful and enriching experience which can change your life forever and create everlasting memories. Make your journey worthwhile, and discover a safe, beautiful, and fascinating world.
