Hostage Survival

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Hostage Survival
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Learning Objective

• Gain an understanding of the principles and
  guidance in relation to surviving as a hostage
• Session will be delivered in relation to the five
  stages of kidnapping or hostage taking

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UN Policy Basis

• No ransom is to be paid
• No substantial concessions will be made
• No release of prisoners for hostages can be
  negotiated
• Host Government primary responsibility for safety
  and security of UN personnel
• Designated Official overall director of hostage
  incident, UN response and operations will not
  be involved in negotiations

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UN Response Hostage Incident Management (HIM)

• Initiate HIM procedure (convene CMG/COG/FST)
• Media management
• Family assistance
• Liaison with Member States

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Objectives of HIM

• Safe release
• Hostages
• Hostage takers
• Minimize harm
• Maintain security of other UN personnel

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1. CAPTURE (Most critical stage)

• First 15-45 minutes most dangerous
• Captors state of mind
• Highly emotional
• Fight reaction
• Flight reaction
• Follow instructions
• Your objective SURVIVE!

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Control your Fear

• Take a deep breath
• Try to relax
• Fear of death/injury is normal reaction
• Recognize your reactions
• Adapt to the situation survive
• The first few hours - greatest anxiety

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Hero vs. Low Profile

• Dont be a hero
• Dont act tough
• Accept your situation - cooperate with captors
• Unforeseen reaction on your part could result in
  violent reaction by captor

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Keep a Low Profile

• Keep a low profile
• Avoid appearing to study captors
• Make mental notes about
• Mannerisms
• Clothes
• Rank structure
• Names and faces
• This will be useful after release

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2. Transportation

• Normally after quick and brutal capture
• You may be drugged, bound, gagged, blindfolded
  and/or beaten
• You may be forced into the back of vehicles or
  boots
• Use this time keep active listen to voices
  and language are they angry or calm?
• Listen/feel for outside noises, direction of
  travel, stops and other familiar smells or sounds

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3. Holding

• You will experience isolation expect it
• No clock - day or night
• Try to maintain a routine
• Focus on pleasant scenes, memories, prayers
• Keep mentally active - try to remember films,
  book plot

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Dealing with Isolation

• Try to maintain sense of humor
• Ask for things you need
• Medicines
• Books
• Paper
• They can say no - but you may get it
• Think positive!

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Your Behaviour

• Be cooperative
• Obey demands - no antagonism
• Body language and speech
• Dont say or do anything to arouse violence
• Dont argue
• Act neutral
• Dont speak unless spoken to

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Your Behaviour

• Speak only when necessary
• Be a good listener
• Be patient
• Dont make suggestions - they could go wrong
• Remind captors you are
• UN staff here to help all
• The UN is neutral
• Not involved in politics

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Your Behaviour

• Never make threats
• Encourage captors to tell people on the outside
  your whereabouts and condition
• Gain respect as well as sympathy
• Never beg, cry or plead
• Captor should view you as a human worthy of
  compassion mercy

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Establishing a Rapport with Captors

• Find areas of mutual interest
• Emphasize personal rather than political
• Good topics - family/children
• If you speak captors language - use it - it will
  enhance rapport
• Be positive - Stockholm syndrome

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Signing Notes or Confessions

• You may be asked to
• Sign note verifying your alive
• Confession saying your org involved in
  nefarious activities
• Sign/dont sign ?
• individual decision situation dependent
• Request changes
• Bolster morale
• Increase captors respect

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Asked to be Negotiator

• Volunteer if possible
• Make sure messages conveyed accurately
• Be prepared to speak on radio or telephone

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Escape

• Only try if you are 100 certain you will succeed
• If caught - your captors might use violence to
  teach you or others a lesson

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Health

• Exercise daily
• Develop fitness programme and stick to it
• Stay well groomed and clean
• Expect appetite weight loss
• Try to drink eat
• Maintain your strength

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4. Termination Rescue by Force

• Do not stand up - drop quickly to the floor
• Get under cover
• Keep your hands over head
• When appropriate - identify yourself
• Talk first -- then move slowly

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5. Aftermath Post Release

• Often feel bitter about treatment received after
  release
• Need to tell your story in detail
• Critical incident stress debriefing
• Emotional problems - months later
• Readjustment takes time
• Precondition for healing process - hostage
  realizes he/she is normal person, having a normal
  reaction to an abnormal situation

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