Overview
An international development company sought the assistance of International SOS to provide comprehensive evacuation and travel logistics for three of its employees. Due to ongoing hostilities between Hizbullah and Israel, the travelers were to be evacuated from Beirut. They also required transportation, accommodation, and onward travel arrangements to their final destination which was Greece.
Problem
The client had three employees in Beirut when Israel started military operations against Hizbullah in Lebanon. While Beirut’s airport remained open, many flights were canceled or heavily disrupted and commuting to the airport was also risky. The three travelers had to be moved out of Beirut as soon as possible and provided support to reach their separate destinations in Greece. The client needed all arrangements to be safe and seamless. Coordinating the logistics across multiple destinations posed a challenge requiring precise execution and local expertise.
Solution
The client contacted the International SOS’ Assistance Center in Dubai, which covers the Middle East region. Our team of security and logistics experts coordinated a safe and efficient evacuation plan with the support of locally based vetted partners. The efforts included:
- Safe Ground Transport to Airport: Arranged transportation from their hotel to Beirut International Airport with vetted security providers coordinated by our security experts.
- Charter Flight for Safe Evacuation: Our dedicated team successfully organized a cost-effective charter flight for the travelers and other clients who urgently needed to evacuate their employees.
- Secure Interim Accommodation: Our team ensured that the travelers had access to accommodation in Istanbul which has gone through our security vetting process to ensure safety and peace of mind.
- Onward Flight Arrangements to Multiple Destinations: Our team successfully managed the complex flight logistics. First, we evacuated the travelers from the conflict zone, and then we arranged flights to two different destinations in Greece. Our global assistance network enabled us to secure flights efficiently, ensuring timely onward travel.
- 24/7 Risk Monitoring and Assistance: Throughout the entire process, International SOS provided continuous risk assessment and monitoring to ensure the safety of the travelers. Our Assistance Center in Dubai offered round-the-clock support, tracking developments in the region and coordinating any necessary changes or updates in real-time.
- Global Coordination and Local Expertise: Leveraging our global network, we worked closely with local partners in Beirut, Istanbul, and Greece, ensuring that all aspects of travel, from transport to flight bookings, were handled seamlessly. Our local knowledge ensured that all travel plans were executed efficiently, with minimal disruption.