Insurance for organisations sending teams into conflict zones or high-risk environments

Last updated: January 2026

Organisations sending journalists, media teams or production crews into conflict zones or hazardous environments face risks that standard business or travel insurance does not cover.

This guide explains what organisations need to consider when insuring groups working in high-risk locations, what typical policies exclude, and how specialist corporate media insurance supports duty of care obligations.

It is written for media organisations, production companies, NGOs, agencies and employers responsible for deploying staff or contractors into challenging environments.

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Jump to section

• Why organisations need specialist cover
• Duty of care and organisational responsibility
• Why standard insurance is not enough
• Key risks when deploying teams
• What corporate media insurance covers
• Staff, freelancers and contractors
• Cover for fixers and local teams
• Kidnap and ransom insurance – what to know
• Choosing the right cover for your organisation

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Why organisations need specialist cover

Sending people into high-risk environments creates responsibilities that go beyond standard corporate insurance.

Conflict zones and hazardous locations introduce risks such as serious injury, sudden medical emergencies, rapid evacuation needs and unstable security conditions. Most general business and travel policies are not designed to respond in these situations.

Specialist corporate media insurance exists to support organisations that knowingly deploy people into these environments as part of their work.

Related: Corporate media insurance cover

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Duty of care and organisational responsibility

Organisations have a duty of care to employees, contractors and, in some cases, third parties affected by their operations.

When teams are deployed to high-risk areas, duty of care typically includes:

• Assessing foreseeable risks
• Providing appropriate insurance and support
• Ensuring access to medical and evacuation assistance
• Having a clear response if something goes wrong

Insurance alone does not fulfil duty of care, but inadequate or inappropriate cover can leave organisations exposed both operationally and reputationally.

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Why standard insurance is not enough

Standard business travel or corporate insurance policies often exclude:

• War and civil unrest
• Terrorism and political violence
• Deployment to locations under travel advisories
• High-risk professional activity such as journalism or filming

Even where a policy appears valid, claims may be declined after the event if the insurer determines the activity or location fell outside accepted terms.

This creates uncertainty at the point organisations can least afford it.

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Key risks when deploying teams

When organisations send groups into high-risk environments, the exposure is multiplied.

Common risks include:

• Serious injury or fatality
• Medical emergencies with limited local care
• Emergency medical evacuation
• Political evacuation or rapid exit
• Detention or questioning by authorities
• Logistical disruption due to instability

Cover needs to work at scale, not just for individuals.

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What corporate media insurance covers

Corporate media insurance is designed for organisations deploying teams into high-risk or conflict-affected regions.

Depending on the policy, cover can include:

• Accidental death and permanent disablement
• Overseas medical expenses
• Emergency medical evacuation
• Political evacuation
• Repatriation

Cover is typically arranged on a group basis, with flexibility to add or remove individuals as deployments change.

Related: View our corporate media cover options

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Staff, freelancers and contractors

Many organisations deploy a mix of employees, freelancers and contractors.

Assumptions about who is insured often lead to gaps. Freelancers may not be covered under standard corporate policies, and contractors may fall outside employer liability arrangements.

Specialist group cover can be structured to include:

• Employees
• Freelance journalists and crew
• Short-term contractors

Clarity on who is covered matters just as much as where they are going.

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Cover for fixers and local teams

Fixers, translators, drivers and local crew are often exposed to the same risks as international teams.

They are also the most likely to be overlooked when cover is arranged.

Corporate media insurance can include local staff where required, but they must be explicitly included. This should be considered both a practical risk issue and a duty of care responsibility.

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Kidnap and ransom insurance – what to know

Kidnap and ransom insurance is a specialist form of cover designed for extreme scenarios.

It is complex, time-consuming to arrange and can be expensive. For these reasons, it is not typically included within standard corporate media insurance policies.

We do not offer kidnap and ransom cover directly through our site. However, where appropriate, we can introduce organisations to specialist underwriters who can provide advice and quotations.

This allows organisations to assess whether such cover is proportionate to the specific risks involved.

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Choosing the right cover for your organisation

The right approach starts with understanding your exposure.

Key questions include:

• Where are teams being deployed?
• What activities will they be undertaking?
• Who is included in the group?
• What support would be needed if something went wrong?

Good specialist cover is built around scenarios and response, not assumptions.

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Final thoughts

Sending teams into conflict zones or hazardous environments carries serious responsibility.

Corporate media insurance cannot remove risk, but it can provide clarity, support and protection when conditions deteriorate.

If you are planning a deployment and are unsure whether your current arrangements are sufficient, it is worth reviewing this before teams travel.