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Consular Crisis Management Operations: Special Considerations and Challenges

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 May 2020

Karin Hugelius Open the ORCID record for Karin Hugelius [Opens in a new window]
Karin Hugelius*
Affiliation:
Örebro University - School of Health Sciences, Örebro, Sweden
*
Correspondence: Karin Hugelius, PhD, RNA, RN Örebro University School of Health Sciences SE-701 82Örebro, Sweden E-mail address: karin.hugelius@oru.se
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Abstract

Assisting the increasing number of tourists and foreign nationals exposed to crises situations in third countries—many of them far from home and extremely vulnerable—presents significant challenges. Despite the need to explore consular crisis management from an operational perspective, there are few studies that address the issue. This paper aims to describe the characteristics and context of consular crisis management operations based on personal experiences, scientific papers, grey literature, and key informant interviews.

Consular crisis management operations are conducted in a context where the stakeholders and the legal environment may differ from humanitarian or civil protection operations. The physical distance causes logistical challenges and demands specific considerations for both civilian and medical evacuation. Consular crisis management operations often include medical care, psychosocial support activities, and disaster victim identification (DVI) activities. Political and media interest may also add significant challenges to such operations. Therefore, specific knowledge, skills, and preparations are needed for both diplomatic crisis management professionals and health professionals. Further research on consular crisis management activities—as well as the concept of consular crisis management itself—is strongly needed.

Keywords

consular crisis managementcrisis managementdisastersmedical evacuationtourists
Type
Special Report
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 35 , Issue 4 , August 2020 , pp. 447 - 450
Copyright
© World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2020

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