Papua New Guinea is one of the clearest examples of why specialist insurance matters. The challenge is often remoteness, difficult transport, limited infrastructure and the practical difficulty of getting help quickly.
We provide cover worldwide for non-combatants, including remote and operationally difficult environments like Papua New Guinea.
This is specialist cover designed for contractors, NGOs, researchers, infrastructure teams and other professionals working where standard insurance may not reflect the real operating conditions.
What's included
Country context
The situation
Papua New Guinea is one of the most operationally demanding environments for international workers. Its extraordinary geographic diversity — remote highlands, dense rainforest, island provinces — combined with limited infrastructure, tribal conflict and high crime rates create a risk profile unlike most other countries in the region.
Tribal conflicts involving mass violence occur periodically, particularly in the Highlands provinces. The scale of these conflicts — involving hundreds of combatants, mass casualty events and the destruction of entire villages — is unusual for a non-civil-war context. International workers have been affected by tribal violence and need specific awareness of conflict dynamics.
Crime, particularly in Port Moresby and other urban centres, is severe. PNG has one of the world's highest rates of violent crime. International workers are targets for theft, carjacking and occasional serious assault. Security infrastructure for international organisations is correspondingly extensive.
What to watch
Why it can be challenging
Tribal warfare causing mass casualties in Highlands
Mass casualty tribal conflicts occur periodically in PNG's Highlands provinces. These involve automatic weapons and have killed hundreds of people. International workers in the Highlands must understand and be prepared for conflict dynamics.
Very high crime rates in urban areas
Port Moresby is one of the world's most dangerous cities for international workers. Carjacking, robbery and assault are common. All international organisations operate with extensive security protocols including safe houses and armed escorts in some areas.
Extreme remoteness with very limited medical infrastructure
Remote provinces in PNG have no meaningful medical infrastructure. Serious medical emergencies require helicopter or fixed-wing evacuation to Port Moresby and potentially onward to Australia. Distance and weather can delay evacuation significantly.
Seismic and volcanic risk
PNG sits on one of the world's most active seismic zones. Earthquakes cause mass casualties and infrastructure destruction — the 2018 Highlands earthquake killed hundreds. Volcanic activity affects Rabaul and other areas.
Can you get insurance for Papua New Guinea?
Yes. We provide specialist insurance for non-combatants travelling to Papua New Guinea for professional and operational reasons.
Cover depends on where you are going, what you are doing and the conditions likely to affect the assignment.
Why this matters in Papua New Guinea
The challenge in Papua New Guinea is often practical rather than theoretical. Distance, transport, terrain, local infrastructure and limited access to care can all affect what happens when something goes wrong.
That is why specialist cover matters. It helps ensure the policy reflects the real environment and gives you a clearer route to support.
Exclusions
This policy protects people, not possessions.
Cover not included
Activity exclusions
Property exclusions
Threat intelligence
For a deeper understanding of the current situation, including operational risks and regional dynamics, see our threat intelligence hub.
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