Tejal Somvanshi
The US State Department is advising Americans who plan to travel to high-risk destinations to take steps most people never consider before a trip: write a will, designate beneficiaries, and leave a DNA sample with a family member or medical provider.
The State Department maintains Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisories for countries where conditions are considered so dangerous that the US government explicitly recommends against going. For some of these countries — like Libya — the United States suspended embassy operations in July 2014, and there is currently no U.S. Embassy there.
Where there is no operating embassy, U.S. government assistance is extremely limited, and travellers should not assume routine or emergency assistance will be available.
The State Department says DNA samples may be needed to help families identify remains. Preparing a will ensures a person’s wishes are known in a situation where they may not be able to communicate them.
The guidance also includes appointing a family contact, establishing a proof-of-life protocol, keeping critical documents current, and reviewing destination-specific security information. These recommendations appear in country-specific advisories including the current Syria advisory.
This guidance applies to high-risk travel in the Level 4 category, not to ordinary international travel.
