Save this page offline before you travel. Numbers and facilities change — confirm with your hotel, your insurer’s assistance line and your embassy. Last checked: 2 November 2026.
Emergency numbers
| Service | Number |
|---|---|
| Police | 991 |
| Ambulance | 907 (the UK FCDO lists 907 for an ambulance) |
| Fire | 939 |
Directory sources disagree on some numbers and mobile coverage varies, so also save your hotel’s front-desk number and your insurer’s 24-hour assistance line. Do not rely on 911 or 112 working.
Hospitals and medical care
The UK FCDO says only private hospitals in Addis Ababa offer a reasonable standard of basic care, and medical facilities outside the capital are extremely poor — carry a comprehensive medical pack when you leave Addis. Ask your hotel or insurer for a hospital that accepts your cover and call ahead; keep the receipts and medical notes. Medical evacuation is the cover that matters most: see the insurance guide and the health guide.
Reaching your embassy
Find your embassy or consulate through your government’s travel pages: US, UK, Canada. Register with your government’s traveller scheme if it has one. Dual nationals: the US warns embassy notification of an arrest can be delayed — see the exit-ban and legal-risk guide.
If you lose your passport
- Report it to the police and get a written report.
- Contact your embassy for an emergency travel document.
- Ask the Immigration and Citizenship Service about the exit formalities for your new document — an overstayed or unregistered visa can cause fines at the airport.
- Keep digital copies of your passport, visa and insurance in an offline folder.
Insurance steps in an emergency
- Call the insurer’s 24-hour assistance line first for anything serious — many policies need pre-approval for evacuation.
- Keep every receipt, report and prescription.
- Note the region you are in: advisory-region exclusions can void cover.
If communications are shut down
The US and others warn of internet and mobile disruptions during unrest. Before you go: download offline maps; share your itinerary and a check-in time with someone at home; carry enough cash for several days; note your hotel’s landline; consider a satellite messenger for remote trips; and agree a fallback meeting point. Our eSIM and SIM guide covers backup data.
Print the safety checklist and keep it with your passport.