SG Govt help to S'poreans overseas vs Others during crisis
-
With the recent death of a Singapore lady in the terrrorist attacks in Mumbai, when she was taken hostage, what kind of help can the Singapore Government extend to Singaporeans in similar crisis situation ?
From the SG Foreign Ministry website:
What can our Consular Officer assist in?
-
Provide you with information, advice and consular assistance.
-
Issue you with an emergency travel document if you have lost your Singapore passport overseas.
Note: It is an Immigration requirement that you report the loss of your passport to the local police and furnish our Mission with a copy of this report.
-
Contact your relatives or friends to request them to send you emergency funds for your repatriation or other necessary emergency expenses.
-
Notify your next-of-kin in the event you are injured abroad.
-
Notify your next-of-kin in the event of your arrest or detention.
-
Visit a Singapore citizen who has been arrested or imprisoned and monitor that due process under the judicial system of that country is accorded to him or her.
-
Help to obtain a list of officially registered local lawyers and translation services where this is available.
-
Assist in making the arrangements for the return to Singapore of the remains and personal belongings of a deceased Singaporean overseas.
-
Help you during emergencies such as natural disasters or civil disorder in the foreign country.
What can our Consular Officer not assist in?
-
Pay your medical, hospital, legal, accommodation, travel or other bills.
-
Provide loans or cash your cheques.
-
Post bails or pay fines on your behalf.
-
Intervene in the judicial process of a foreign country or ignore local laws.
-
Intervene in or act as an intermediary in disputes which are of a civil nature.
-
Provide legal advice or initiate court proceedings on your behalf.
-
Act as your guarantor or sponsor.
-
Arrange for your accommodation or for your work.
-
Provide translation, mail-forwarding, telephone, fax/telex or other personal services.
-
-
From the UK Foreign Ministry website:
Help in an emergency
Our embassies have a lot of experience of dealing with the emergencies that travellers and residents abroad might encounter. We offer a wide range of practical help including:
- issuing emergency passports
- handling cases of child abduction and forced marriages
- helping Britons who have been arrested or imprisoned
- helping British residents and holiday makers affected by a political emergency or natural disaster
- helping those who have fallen ill
- helping those who have been the victim of a crime
- giving practical help to those searching for missing friends or relatives
- giving practical help for those dealing with the sudden death of a relative or friend
- assessing risks to British nationals ranging from terrorism to natural disasters.
As a first step get in touch with your local British Embassy or High Commission.
Before you go, one useful thing you could do is keep a note of the local British Embassy phone number.
You can also take a look at Support for British Nationals Abroad which answers many of the questions you might have about the kind of help an embassy or high commission can give. It has been translated into a number of languages including Arabic, Bengali, Gujarati, Punjabi, Urdu and Chinese.
You might also take a look at our Travel Checklists which tells you some of the things you ought to do before you leave, like checking your vaccinations, making sure you have insurance and so on.
Renewing your passport in the UK if you live abroad
You can renew, amend or replace your passport whilst you’re visiting the UK. You should apply to the Identity and Passport Service.
You’ll need to make an appointment, provide a verifiable residential address, and be able to attend any interviews as required by IPS. You’ll have to be available at this address so you can sign for the passport. Please note that IPS do not accept applications by post or email from abroad.
Replacement and emergency passports
We can issue you with a replacement travel document if you need to travel urgently. But we’ll need some verification of your identity and to be satisfied that you are a British national. You’ll also need to show us a police report and pay a fee.
This document may be an emergency passport valid for a single journey, a temporary one-year passport or a standard passport, depending on embassy facilities and your travel needs. We need to make checks before we can issue a passport and this may mean you have to delay your travel plans.
You’ll have to pay an extra fee if staff need to issue an emergency travel document outside of normal office hours. This starts at £121. You should also consider whether you need to obtain an exit visa from the local immigration authorities. Some countries do not issue such visas outside normal office hours.
Check with the local British embassy or consulate to see what services it offers. Local conditions mean that different passport services are available in different areas.
Arrest or detention
If a relative of friend tells you have they been arrested abroad contact us on 020 7008 1500.
British nationals arrested abroad should contact the relevant British embassy, high commission or consulate. You're entitled to do this whichever country you are in.
If the detained person wants us to, we can tell their family or friends that they have been arrested or detained.
We can't provide details of the arrest without the detained person’s permission.
We'll aim to contact the detained person within twenty four hours of being told of their arrest and if they want, we'll aim to visit them as soon as we can.
Our staff are there to support arrested British nationals. We aim to be sensitive and non-judgemental. We treat all prisoners the same regardless of what crime they are being held for.
What we can do to help:
- provide general information about the relevant country, prison conditions and the local legal system, including whether local legal aid is available
- provide a list of local lawyers and interpreters
- make sure any medical or dental problems are brought to the attention of the police or prison doctor
- take up any justified complaints about ill treatment, personal safety or discrimination with the police of prison authorities
- send money to prisoners from their families - in some countries we can also help British prisoners buy prison ‘comforts’ with money sent by their family and friends
- we can also send messages between prisoners and their families
- put prisoners in touch with the prisoners’ welfare charity, Prisoners Abroad (external site)
- if it is possible, provide information on how British prisoners may apply for transfers to a UK prisons.
We'll consider approaching the local authorities if we feel that a British national is not being treated in line with internationally-accepted standards regarding fair trials and prisoners’ rights.
We'll visit prisoners in European Union countries or in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Canada, Switzerland, Canada, the USA and New Zealand once after sentencing and then only if there is a real need. In other countries we aim to visit once a year, or more if necessary.
But we can't:
- get a British national out of prison or detention, or get them special treatment because they are British
- offer legal advice, start legal proceedings or investigate a crime
- pay for any costs incurred as a result of being arrested
- forward prisoners parcels sent by family and friends
- prevent the local authorities from deporting a British national upon release.
Dual Nationals
If you are a dual national travelling on your British Passport in a third state (that is a country of which you are not a national) we will offer you our full support. If you are travelling on the passport of your other nationality, we will normally direct you to that state's local Embassy, High Commission, or Consulate. If you are a dual national travelling in the state of your other nationality we would not normally offer you support or get involved in dealings between you and the authorities of that state. We may make an exception if, having looked at the circumstances of the case, we consider that there is a special humanitarian reason to do so.
Sick or injured abroad
If you become sick or are injured abroad you should seek medical attention locally if you feel you need it. Your travel insurance should cover most medical expenses if you have taken out a comprehensive policy.
If you have travelled with a tour guide or have a tour representative you should contact them in the first instance if your condition is not serious.
Please be aware that medical facilities abroad may differ from those in the UK.
In hospital abroad
If you're admitted to hospital abroad you should contact your nearest embassy.
What we can do to help:
- aim to contact you within 24 hours of being told that you have been admitted
- contact your family and friends in the UK
- liaise with your insurance company or medical evacuation company
- visit you within 48 hours of being told you have gone into hospital if we feel that this is appropriate to your circumstances and there is an Embassy or consulate in the same city as the hospital you are in.
We'll take into account your condition, whether you have family and friends with you, whether you are with a tour company and the medical facilities available.
If you have been hospitalised as a result of an assault or other crime, we will aim to visit you as soon as possible. Please see the victims of crime page for more information.
What we can't do:
We cannot pay for your medical treatment or provide treatment ourselves.
We won’t usually contact or visit you if you have travelled specifically for medical treatment.
Victims of Crime:
If you are unfortunate enough to be the victim of a crime of any kind overseas, our embassies may be able to help you. You'll find a link to our 'Find an embassy' page to the right.
Please see the page on lost or stolen passports if you need to obtain new travel documents whilst abroad.
Please see the page on rape and sexual assualt for specific information on such attacks.
For information on how we can help if you are caught up in a major catastrophe, please see our leaflet, ‘Support for British Nationals Abroad: a guide’
What we can do to help:
- provide you with a list of local lawyers and interpreters
- help you to contact a local doctor if you need medical treatment
- contact your relatives and friends to let them know what has happened
- provide information on how you can safely transfer money from relatives or friends
- in an emergency we can cash a sterling cheque up to £100, with a valid banker’s card into local currency. There will be a charge for this service
What we can’t do:
- give you legal advice
- collect evidence or investigate crimes, or influence the outcome of a trial
- assist with travel costs if you are asked to attend a trial abroad as a victim or witness
- provide general financial help, except in very exceptional circumstances
In such very exceptional cases we may consider providing a loan from public funds to help you return to the UK.
You will have to sign an agreement to repay this loan in full. You will usually have to secure the loan by giving up your passport to us.
We will then issue you with an emergency, single journey travel document. Your passport will only be returned upon full repayment of the loan.
If you are a victim of theft:
- Report any incidences of theft to the local police. You will need a police statement to claim against your travel insurance
- Remember to cancel any credit cards or travellers cheques.
Missing persons
If you suspect a relative of friend has gone missing abroad you should contact us on 020 7008 1500 and ask for Consular Directorate. You will need to tell us the country where you think they have gone missing.
We can only help in cases where regular contact has been unexpectedly lost.
We can NOT help if you wish to trace someone you lost contact with a long time ago.
You should try to provide as much information about the missing person as you can, such as:
- name, date and place of birth
- the last time and place contact was made
- their travel itinerary and where you think they may be
- mobile phone number and/ or email address
- passport and insurance details
- recent photo
If you are abroad, use the search facility to the right to find the nearest British Embassy.
If you are in the UK you should contact your local police force and ask them to inform the UK National Centre Bureau of Interpol, who will liaise with the relevant foreign police.
Please be aware that responsibility for conducting searches overseas rests with the local police force. UK police will assist with enquiries but it is rare they will become actively involved in the case.
What we can do to help:
- check our records to see if the missing person has come to our attention. The Data Protection Act 1998 may prevent us from releasing information without the person's consent
- liaise with the local authorities and will keep you informed of our progress
- pass onto the appropriate UK authorities any requests from host governments for help in mounting a search, rescue and recovery operation
- provide you with details of any local organisations specialising in tracing missing persons
- provide contact details for local private detectives. However we cannot guarantee the professional ability of any person or company
- we will appoint a caseworker in London with whom you can liaise
- our embassy staff can arrange to meet you should you decide to travel abroad to search yourself
- we may be able to facilitate press or TV appeals in the relevant country
- provide information on local printing companies, should you wish to initiate a poster and leaflet campaign. We can advise on suitable poster locations
What we can’t do:
- conduct physical searches on your behalf.
- provide financial assistance for rescue operations of people missing in remote areas
- pay for the repatriation of a body
- control media coverage of the case.
We never release information that is not in the public domain. But you should be aware that the media may be persistent in obtaining background information on the missing person from other sources.
What you can do:
Consider the following when trying to trace a missing person:
- when and why were you expecting contact from them?
- was there anything in their last communication with you that might suggest where they are now or why they might not have been in touch?
- you may wish to contact the family of any travelling companions, or other people with whom the missing person might have been in contact whilst abroad
- the missing person’s bank or building society may be able to tell you when and from where their account was last accessed. The bank may require official police intervention before they agree to give you this information
- in some countries it may be possible to offer a reward for information. Consider the implications of this and contact an organisation that has experience of tracing missing persons
- consider what you would be able to achieve by travelling to the country yourself. Local authorities may be reluctant to pass on information
You may wish to identify a personal item of the missing person. A toothbrush, hairbrush or razor could provide a DNA profile.
Coping with death abroad
This page has key information and advice on how we can help you if a friend or relative dies whilst abroad. There is also advice on what to do if death occurs in suspicious circumstances.
If you are living in the UK and a relative or friend dies when abroad, then you should contact us on 020 7008 1500. If you are abroad, you should contact the relevant embassy, high commission or consulate. You'll find a link to our 'Find an embassy' page to the right.
What you need to do
It is essential that the death is registered in the country where the person died. We can advise you how to do this.
You will need to provide documents from yourself and the person who died, which show your names, dates of birth and passport details.
You will also have to inform the local authorities if the person suffered from an infectious condition such as hepatitis or HIV, so they are prepared when dealing with the body.
You don’t have to register the death with the British Embassy but if you do, you will get a UK death certificate. Local death certificates issued in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa and Zimbabwe are suitable for British purposes.
What we can do to help:
- our staff in London can pass on your wishes about how to deal with the body to our staff overseas
- unfortunately, in some countries it is possible that a post mortem may be carried out without your permission
- organs may be removed and kept during this procedure without your prior knowledge or consent
- we can tell you about the cost of local burial or cremation
- we can advise you about bringing the body and personal belongings back to the UK
- we can provide details of local and international funeral directors. And if an English speaking firm is not available our staff at the embassy can help you with arrangements.
Please be aware that in some countries inadequate storage makes it impossible to get the certificates necessary for transporting a body from one country to another.
We will do everything we can to ensure that you do not hear about the death of close relative through the media.
On rare occasions, where we have to act quickly, we may have to inform you about the death over the phone. We never release the name of someone who has died to the media before we have told the next of kin.
If the person who has died was travelling with a tour company, the company will usually contact their next of kin themselves.
If the death of a British national abroad is reported to us we will ask the UK police to inform the next of kin as soon as possible. Alternatively we will ask our staff in the relevant country to do this if the next of kin are abroad themselves.
What we can’t do:
- we cannot pay burial, cremation or repatriation costs, but we can help to transfer money from friends or relatives in the UK
Death abroad in suspicious circumstances
In addition to the above support, where there is evidence of suspicious circumstances we can:
offer some basic information on the local police and legal systems.- provide lists of local interpreters, lawyers and local support groups where possible- these lists are usually on the local embassy’s website
In many countries the authorities and courts will refuse to answer questions from British consular staff so we highly recommend you appoint a local lawyer to help you. Please note that we cannot :
- investigate deaths ourselves
- offer financial assistance with legal costs.
Please also be aware that the standard of investigative procedures and police expertise varies greatly around the world. We will however consider making an appropriate representation to the local authorities if there are concerns that they are not carrying out the investigation in line with local procedures.
You should appoint one family member to liaise with us as the case continues. Your local police force may decide to appoint a Family Liaison Officer to help you if the investigation is ongoing.
You'll find some links to the websites of helpful support groups in the box to the right.
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/about-the-fco/embassies-and-posts/emergency-help
-
From the US Department of State website:
Emergency Assistance to American Citizens Abroad
Death or Injury of an American Citizen Abroad
Death
When an American dies abroad, the Bureau of Consular Affairs must locate and inform the next-of-kin. Sometimes discovering the next-of-kin is difficult. If the American’s name is known, the Bureau’s Office of Passport Services will search for his or her passport application.
The Bureau of Consular Affairs provides guidance to grieving family members on how to make arrangements for local burial or return of the remains to the U.S. The disposition of remains is affected by local laws, customs, and facilities, which are often vastly different from those in the U.S. The Bureau of Consular Affairs relays the family’s instructions and necessary private funds to cover the costs involved to the embassy or consulate. The Department of State has no funds to assist in the return of remains or ashes of American citizens who die abroad. Upon completion of all formalities, the consular officer abroad prepares an official Foreign Service Report of Death, based upon the local death certificate, and sends it to the next-of-kin or legal representative for use in U.S. courts to settle estate matters.
A U.S. consular officer overseas has statutory responsibility for the personal estate of an American who dies abroad if the deceased has no legal representative in the country where the death occurred. The consular officer takes possession of personal effects, such as:
- convertible assets
- apparel
- jewelry
- personal documents and papers.
The officer prepares an inventory and then carries out instructions from members of the deceased’s family concerning the effects. In Washington, the Bureau of Consular Affairs gives next-of-kin guidance on procedures to follow in preparing Letters Testamentary, Letters of Administration, and Affidavits of Next-of-Kin as acceptable evidence of legal claim of an estate.
Injury
In the case of an injured American, the embassy or consulate abroad notifies the Office of Citizen Services, which notifies family members in the U.S. The Bureau of Consular Affairs can assist in sending private funds to the injured American; frequently it collects information on the individual’s prior medical history and forwards it to the embassy or consulate. When necessary, the State Department assists in arranging the return of the injured American to the U.S. commercially, with appropriate medical escort, via commercial air ambulance or, occasionally, by U.S. Air Force medical evacuation aircraft. The use of Air Force facilities for a medical evacuation is authorized only under certain stringent conditions, and when commercial evacuation is not possible. The full expense must be borne by the injured American or his family.
Privacy Act - The provisions of the Privacy Act are designed to protect the privacy and rights of Americans, but occasionally they complicate our efforts to assist citizens abroad. As a rule, consular officers may not reveal information regarding an individual Americans location, welfare, intentions, or problems to anyone, including family members and Congressional representatives, without the expressed consent of that individual. Although sympathetic to the distress this can cause concerned families, consular officers must comply with the provisions of the Privacy Act.
Arrest/Detention of an American Citizen Abroad
One of the most important tasks of the Department of State and of U.S. embassies and consulates abroad is to provide assistance to U.S. citizens incarcerated abroad. The State Department is committed to ensuring fair and humane treatment for American citizens imprisoned overseas. We stand ready to assist incarcerated citizens and their families within the limits of our authority in accordance with international law.
We can and do monitor conditions in foreign prisons and can protest allegations of abuse against U.S. citizen prisoners when requested to do so. We work with prison officials to ensure treatment consistent with internationally recognized standards of human rights and to ensure that Americans are afforded due process under local laws.
While in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country's laws and regulations which sometimes differ significantly from those in the United States and may not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law. As our Country Specific Information explain, penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offenses. Persons violating the law, even unknowingly, may be expelled, fined, arrested, or imprisoned.
Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs are strict and convicted offenders can expect jail sentences and fines. If arrested abroad, a citizen must go through the foreign legal process for being charged or indicted, prosecuted, possibly convicted and sentenced, and for any appeals process. Within this framework, U.S. consular officers provide a wide variety of services to U.S. citizens arrested abroad and their families.
Privacy Act - The provisions of the Privacy Act are designed to protect the privacy and rights of Americans, but occasionally they complicate our efforts to assist citizens abroad. As a rule, consular officers may not reveal information regarding an individual Americans location, welfare, intentions, or problems to anyone, including family members and Congressional representatives, without the expressed consent of that individual. Although sympathetic to the distress this can cause concerned families, consular officers must comply with the provisions of the Privacy Act.
HELP FOR AMERICAN VICTIMS OF CRIME OVERSEAS
The Bureau of Consular Affairs, Overseas Citizens Services is committed to assisting American citizens who become victims of crime while traveling, working, or residing abroad. Government officials, known as consuls or consular officers, at embassies and consulates in nearly 250 cities throughout the world are responsible for assisting U.S. citizens who may be traveling, working, or residing abroad. In addition, in approximately 50 cities where a significant number of Americans reside or visit and there is no U.S. embassy or consulate, consular agents provide emergency assistance to U.S. citizens. Consuls, consular agents, and local employees work with their counterparts in the Bureau of Consular Affairs Overseas Citizens Services Office in Washington, D.C. to provide emergency and non-emergency services to Americans abroad.
How to Contact Us
Consular duty personnel are available for emergency assistance 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at embassies, consulates, and consular agencies overseas and in Washington, D.C. To contact the Office of Overseas Citizens Services in the U.S. call 1-888-407-4747 (during business hours) or 202-647-5225 (after hours). Contact information for U.S. embassies, consulates, and consular agencies overseas is on this Internet site.
If You Are the Victim of a Crime Overseas
Contact the nearest U.S. embassy, consulate, or consular agency for assistance.
Contact local police to report the incident and obtain immediate help with safety concerns. Request a copy of the police report.
Consular Assistance to American Crime Victims
Consular personnel can provide assistance to crime victims. When a U.S. citizen becomes the victim of a crime overseas, he or she may suffer physical, emotional, or financial injuries. Additionally, the emotional impact of the crime may be intensified because the victim is in unfamiliar surroundings. The victim may not be near sources of comfort and support, fluent in the local language, or knowledgeable about local laws and customs.
Consuls, consular agents, and local employees at overseas posts are familiar with local government agencies and resources in the country where they work. They can help American crime victims with issues such as:
Replacing a stolen passport;
Contacting family, friends, or employers;
Obtaining appropriate medical care;
Addressing emergency needs that arise as a result of the crime;
Obtaining general information about the local criminal justice process and information about your case;
Obtaining information about local resources to assist victims, including foreign crime victim compensation programs;
Obtaining information about crime victim assistance and compensation programs in the U.S.; and
Obtaining a list of local attorneys who speak English.
Consular officials cannot, however, investigate crimes, provide legal advice or represent you in court, serve as official interpreters or translators, or pay legal, medical, or other fees for you.
Individual Reactions to Crime Victimization
How individuals react to being the victim of a crime will vary from person to person. Reactions are affected by individual factors such as how the victim handles stress, the nature and duration of the crime, the physical safety of the victim, and the number and type of support systems available. Reactions to a crime may be immediate or delayed. The physical, emotional, or cognitive (involving thinking ability) symptoms a victim may experience could include nausea, headaches, fatigue, hyperventilation, or sleeping problems. Some victims report feelings of anxiety or fear, hyper-vigilance, guilt, anger, or isolation. Some experience difficulty making decisions, short-term memory problems, difficulty concentrating, or recurring memories of the crime.
It is important to realize that these are normal feelings, behaviors and reactions to an abnormal event. One of the first things to pay attention to is your need to feel safer. Addressing safety concerns and receiving emotional support can help. For most victims the reactions described above diminish with time. If these reactions persist and are disrupting your life or getting worse after three or four weeks, you should consider seeking professional assistance.
Resources and Information for Crime Victims:
Victim Assistance : If you are the victim of a crime while overseas you may benefit from specialized resources for crime victims available in the U.S. Throughout the United States thousands of local crime victim assistance programs offer help to victims of violent crime and most will help residents of their community who have been the victim of a crime in another country. These include rape crisis counseling programs, shelter and counseling programs for battered women, support groups and bereavement counseling for family members of homicide victims, diagnostic and treatment programs for child abuse victims, assistance for victims of drunk driving crashes, and others. Information about locating crime victim assistance programs is below.
Victim Compensation : All states operate crime victim compensation programs and nearly half of them offer benefits to their residents who are victims of violent crime overseas. (See contact information for state compensation programs below.) These state compensation programs provide financial assistance to eligible victims for reimbursement of expenses such as medical treatment, counseling, funeral costs, lost income or loss of support, and others. Generally victim compensation programs require the victim to report the crime to law enforcement and they usually request a copy of the police report.
Contact Information for Victim Compensation and Assistance Programs:
Information about each state’s crime victim compensation program and how to apply for compensation is available on the Internet at the web site of the National Association of Crime Victim Compensation Boards, http://www.nacvcb.org
The toll-free 24 hours a day /7 days a week hotline for sexual assault crisis counseling and referrals in the United States is 1-800-656-HOPE. It is operated by a non-profit organization, RAINN (Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network), which also has information on the Internet at http://www.rainn.org
Information about local sexual assault victim assistance programs in the U.S. is also available from each state’s sexual assault coalition. Contact information for these state coalitions are listed at the website of the U.S. Department of Justice Violence Against Women Office, http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/vawo/help.htm
The toll-free 24 hours a day /7 days a week National Domestic Violence Hotline, which provides crisis counseling and referrals in the U.S., is 1-800-799-SAFE.
Information about local domestic violence victim assistance programs in the U.S. is also available from each state’s domestic violence coalition. Contact information for these state coalitions is listed at the website of the U.S. Department of Justice Violence Against Women Office, http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/vawo/help.htm
The toll-free 24 hours a day /7 days a week crisis counseling and referral line for families and friends of those who have died by violence is 1-888-818-POMC. It is operated by a non-profit organization, POMC, Inc., (The National Organization of Parents of Murdered Children) which also has information on the Internet at http://www.pomc.org
Information about national and local resources for victims and family members of victims of drunk driving crashes is available at the web site of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, http://www.madd.org
Contact information for non-emergency victim assistance services in communities throughout the U.S. is available at the web site of the U.S. Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime, http://ovc.ncjrs.org/findvictimservices/
Information for crime victims on the impact of crime, safety planning, legal rights and civil legal remedies, and options for assistance and referrals to local programs is also available from the National Crime Victim Center. Call toll free (8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. EST) 1-800-FYI-CALL or call TTY for hearing impaired (8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. EST) 1-800-211-7996. Information is also available on the Internet at http://www.ncvc.org
Information and referral to victim assistance programs is available from the National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA). Call toll-free 24 hours a day /7 days a week 1-800-TRY-NOVA. Information is also available on the Internet at http://www.try-nova.org
Information about victim assistance programs in approximately 20 countries is available at the web site of Victim Assistance On-line, http://www.vaonline.org
American Citizens Missing Abroad
As concerned relatives call in, Consular officers use the information provided by the family or friends of a missing person to locate the individual. We check with local authorities in the foreign country to see if there is any report of a U.S. citizen hospitalized, arrested, or is otherwise unable to communicate with those looking for them. Depending on the circumstances, consular officers may personally search hotels, airports, hospitals, or even prisons.
Privacy Act - The provisions of the Privacy Act are designed to protect the privacy and rights of Americans, but occasionally they complicate our efforts to assist citizens abroad. As a rule, consular officers may not reveal information regarding an individual Americans location, welfare, intentions, or problems to anyone, including family members and Congressional representatives, without the expressed consent of that individual. Although sympathetic to the distress this can cause concerned families, consular officers must comply with the provisions of the Privacy Act.
Emergencies
Abductions in Progress
Contact the Office of Children’s Issues immediately if:
- Your child is in the process of being abducted internationally by a family member, and
- Is NOT yet abroad.
Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM EST - Call at 202-736-9090
Evenings, Holidays, and Weekends - Call 1-888-407-4747How we can help:
- We can work with law enforcement to try to stop the departure of children being abducted from the United States.
- If the abductor is transiting a country that is party to the Hague Abduction Convention, we will contact authorities of that country who can attempt to stop the abduction as it is in progress.
- If your child has already been abducted to another country, please visit our possible solutions page for more information, and then contact us for assistance.
HELP FOR AMERICAN VICTIMS OF CRIME OVERSEAS
The Bureau of Consular Affairs, Overseas Citizens Services is committed to assisting American citizens who become victims of crime while traveling, working, or residing abroad. Government officials, known as consuls or consular officers, at embassies and consulates in nearly 250 cities throughout the world are responsible for assisting U.S. citizens who may be traveling, working, or residing abroad. In addition, in approximately 50 cities where a significant number of Americans reside or visit and there is no U.S. embassy or consulate, consular agents provide emergency assistance to U.S. citizens. Consuls, consular agents, and local employees work with their counterparts in the Bureau of Consular Affairs Overseas Citizens Services Office in Washington, D.C. to provide emergency and non-emergency services to Americans abroad.
How to Contact Us
Consular duty personnel are available for emergency assistance 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at embassies, consulates, and consular agencies overseas and in Washington, D.C. To contact the Office of Overseas Citizens Services in the U.S. call 1-888-407-4747 (during business hours) or 202-647-5225 (after hours). Contact information for U.S. embassies, consulates, and consular agencies overseas is on this Internet site.
If You Are the Victim of a Crime Overseas
Contact the nearest U.S. embassy, consulate, or consular agency for assistance.
Contact local police to report the incident and obtain immediate help with safety concerns. Request a copy of the police report.
Consular Assistance to American Crime Victims
Consular personnel can provide assistance to crime victims. When a U.S. citizen becomes the victim of a crime overseas, he or she may suffer physical, emotional, or financial injuries. Additionally, the emotional impact of the crime may be intensified because the victim is in unfamiliar surroundings. The victim may not be near sources of comfort and support, fluent in the local language, or knowledgeable about local laws and customs.
Consuls, consular agents, and local employees at overseas posts are familiar with local government agencies and resources in the country where they work. They can help American crime victims with issues such as:
Replacing a stolen passport;
Contacting family, friends, or employers;
Obtaining appropriate medical care;
Addressing emergency needs that arise as a result of the crime;
Obtaining general information about the local criminal justice process and information about your case;
Obtaining information about local resources to assist victims, including foreign crime victim compensation programs;
Obtaining information about crime victim assistance and compensation programs in the U.S.; and
Obtaining a list of local attorneys who speak English.
Consular officials cannot, however, investigate crimes, provide legal advice or represent you in court, serve as official interpreters or translators, or pay legal, medical, or other fees for you.
Individual Reactions to Crime Victimization
How individuals react to being the victim of a crime will vary from person to person. Reactions are affected by individual factors such as how the victim handles stress, the nature and duration of the crime, the physical safety of the victim, and the number and type of support systems available. Reactions to a crime may be immediate or delayed. The physical, emotional, or cognitive (involving thinking ability) symptoms a victim may experience could include nausea, headaches, fatigue, hyperventilation, or sleeping problems. Some victims report feelings of anxiety or fear, hyper-vigilance, guilt, anger, or isolation. Some experience difficulty making decisions, short-term memory problems, difficulty concentrating, or recurring memories of the crime.
It is important to realize that these are normal feelings, behaviors and reactions to an abnormal event. One of the first things to pay attention to is your need to feel safer. Addressing safety concerns and receiving emotional support can help. For most victims the reactions described above diminish with time. If these reactions persist and are disrupting your life or getting worse after three or four weeks, you should consider seeking professional assistance.
Resources and Information for Crime Victims:
Victim Assistance : If you are the victim of a crime while overseas you may benefit from specialized resources for crime victims available in the U.S. Throughout the United States thousands of local crime victim assistance programs offer help to victims of violent crime and most will help residents of their community who have been the victim of a crime in another country. These include rape crisis counseling programs, shelter and counseling programs for battered women, support groups and bereavement counseling for family members of homicide victims, diagnostic and treatment programs for child abuse victims, assistance for victims of drunk driving crashes, and others. Information about locating crime victim assistance programs is below.
Victim Compensation : All states operate crime victim compensation programs and nearly half of them offer benefits to their residents who are victims of violent crime overseas. (See contact information for state compensation programs below.) These state compensation programs provide financial assistance to eligible victims for reimbursement of expenses such as medical treatment, counseling, funeral costs, lost income or loss of support, and others. Generally victim compensation programs require the victim to report the crime to law enforcement and they usually request a copy of the police report.
Contact Information for Victim Compensation and Assistance Programs:
Information about each state’s crime victim compensation program and how to apply for compensation is available on the Internet at the web site of the National Association of Crime Victim Compensation Boards, http://www.nacvcb.org
The toll-free 24 hours a day /7 days a week hotline for sexual assault crisis counseling and referrals in the United States is 1-800-656-HOPE. It is operated by a non-profit organization, RAINN (Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network), which also has information on the Internet at http://www.rainn.org
Information about local sexual assault victim assistance programs in the U.S. is also available from each state’s sexual assault coalition. Contact information for these state coalitions are listed at the website of the U.S. Department of Justice Violence Against Women Office, http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/vawo/help.htm
The toll-free 24 hours a day /7 days a week National Domestic Violence Hotline, which provides crisis counseling and referrals in the U.S., is 1-800-799-SAFE.
Information about local domestic violence victim assistance programs in the U.S. is also available from each state’s domestic violence coalition. Contact information for these state coalitions is listed at the website of the U.S. Department of Justice Violence Against Women Office, http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/vawo/help.htm
The toll-free 24 hours a day /7 days a week crisis counseling and referral line for families and friends of those who have died by violence is 1-888-818-POMC. It is operated by a non-profit organization, POMC, Inc., (The National Organization of Parents of Murdered Children) which also has information on the Internet at http://www.pomc.org
Information about national and local resources for victims and family members of victims of drunk driving crashes is available at the web site of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, http://www.madd.org
Contact information for non-emergency victim assistance services in communities throughout the U.S. is available at the web site of the U.S. Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime, http://ovc.ncjrs.org/findvictimservices/
Information for crime victims on the impact of crime, safety planning, legal rights and civil legal remedies, and options for assistance and referrals to local programs is also available from the National Crime Victim Center. Call toll free (8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. EST) 1-800-FYI-CALL or call TTY for hearing impaired (8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. EST) 1-800-211-7996. Information is also available on the Internet at http://www.ncvc.org
Information and referral to victim assistance programs is available from the National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA). Call toll-free 24 hours a day /7 days a week 1-800-TRY-NOVA. Information is also available on the Internet at http://www.try-nova.org
Information about victim assistance programs in approximately 20 countries is available at the web site of Victim Assistance On-line, http://www.vaonline.org
Get Help in a Foreign Country
- Financial Assistance
- Arrest/Incarcerations
- Medical Emergencies
- Death of U.S. Citizens Abroad
- General Emergency Information
Lost / Stolen U.S. Passports Abroad
- U.S. Passports Will No Longer be Issued Abroad - Press Release - 4/2/02
- Lost and Stolen U.S. Passports Abroad
Financial Assistance for U.S. Citizens Abroad
Arrest/Incarceration of U.S. Citizens Abroad
- Assistance to U.S. Citizens Arrested Abroad
- Prisoner Transfer Treaties
- Criminal Record Checks
- Sending Money
Locating U.S. Citizens Abroad in the Event of an Emergency
Medical Emergencies Involving U.S. Citizens Abroad
- Medical Information for Americans Traveling Abroad
- A Doctors/Hospitals abroad
Death of U.S. Citizens Abroad/Estate Matters
- Information on Deaths Abroad of U.S. Citizens
- Consular Report of Death of a U.S. Citizen Abroad
- Return of Remains of Deceased Americans
- Estates of Deceased U.S. Citizens
- Intercountry Transfer of the Proceeds of an Estate
- Affidavit of Surviving Spouse or Next of Kin
- National Archives: Deaths of U.S. Citizens in Foreign Countries
http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/emergencies/emergencies_1212.html
General Emergency Information for U.S. Citizens
- U.S. Consuls Help Americans Abroad
- Crisis Abroad
- Evacuation Plan (provided by Family Liaison Office)
- Overseas Citizens Services
- Help for American Victims of Crime Overseas
http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/tips/emergencies/emergencies_1205.html
-
From the Malaysian Foreign Ministry website:
-
Originally posted by Atobe:
With the recent death of a Singapore lady in the terrrorist attacks in Mumbai, when she was taken hostage, what kind of help can the Singapore Government extend to Singaporeans in similar crisis situation ?
From the SG Foreign Ministry website:
"Help you during emergencies such as natural disasters or civil disorder in the foreign country."
that sounds very broad.
-
obviously the things the gov can do depends on a case to case basis.