120820 – World Status Report

This report intends to give the UTD Community a snapshot of international risks, and other issues as reported by the linked official sources from the U.S. and other countries.

Please note the revision date (mmddyy) of this report, printed on the title of the post, and go to the direct sources listed for the most up-to-date information.  The information in this report may change without prior notice.

Avoid Nonessential Travel

Conflict and Terrorism

• Armenia * GOV.UK * The FCDO advise against all travel within 5km of the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and along the M16/H26 road between the towns of Ijevan and NoyemberyanThe border between Armenia and Azerbaijan is closed. There have been frequent violations of historical ceasefires between these countries from military emplacements along the border. There have been periods of increased tension which can make the security situation in border regions unpredictable.
• Azerbaijan * GC.CA * Since September 2020, Azerbaijani authorities have declared martial law across the country. A curfew is in place from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. in Baku, Ganja, Sumgayit, Yevlakh, Mingachevir, Naftalan cities, as well as in Absheron, Jabrayil, Fuzuli, Aghjabadi, Beylagan, Aghdam, Barda, Tartar, Goranboy, Goygol, Dashkasan, Gadabay, Tovuz, Shamkir, Gazakh and Aghstafa districts. Authorities could restrict telecommunication services and suspend flights to certain destinations. If you are in Azerbaijan: avoid all travel to Nagorno–Karabakh, the surrounding areas and within 5 km of the border with Armenia, monitor local media for the latest information, follow the instructions of local authorities, contact your airline or tour operator to determine if the situation will disrupt your travel plans.
• Azerbaijan * GOV.UK * The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advise against all travel to: Nagorno-Karabakh, The rayons of Zengilan, Jabrayil, Qubadli, Lachin and Kelbajar. Western areas of Khojavand, Fuzuli and Aghdam rayons. within 5km of the border with Armenia.
• Ethiopia * GC.CA * Military operations have been occurring in northern Ethiopia since November 4, 2020. There are reports of attacks in the Tigray, Afar and Amhara regions. Local authorities have declared a state of emergency in the Tigray region, which will be in effect until May 2021. Travel by road in and out of this region is forbidden. All flights are cancelled until further notice. Access to telecommunications in the area remains intermittent and there are reports of food shortages. Avoid all travel to the Tigray region, as well as areas bordering the Amhara and Afar regions, due to ongoing military operations.
• Iran * GOV.UK * Border areas are particularly sensitive. The FCDO advise all British nationals against all travel within 100km of the Iran/Afghanistan border; within 10km of the entire Iran/Iraq border; to the province of Sistan-Baluchistan; to the area to the east of Bam and Jask, including Bam; and within 10km of the northwest border with Azerbaijan/Armenia border, between (and including) Jolfa and Parsabad.

Demonstrations and social unrest

• Haiti * GC.CA * Avoid non-essential travel to Haiti due to the potential for civil unrest throughout the country. The security situation could deteriorate quickly. Kidnappings of Haitians, dual-nationals and foreigners alike has increased in recent months in Port-au-Prince.

Take Enhanced Precautions

Conflict and Terrorism

• Eritrea * GC.CA * Military operations have been occurring in the Tigray region of Ethiopia since early November 2020. Due to the instability in this region, several explosions were also reported in Asmara. Government and military sites, including airports, could be targeted. If you are in Eritrea: monitor local media for information on the evolving situation, follow the instructions of local authorities.
• Eritrea * GOV.AU * There have been reports of explosions in Asmara as a result of rockets launched from the ongoing military conflict in Tigray, Ethiopia. Further attacks are possible. Exercise extreme caution and stay away from airports, and government and military sites. Avoid moving around at night and follow the advice of local authorities.
• Ethiopia * GOV.UK * The British Embassy is aware of a series of incidents involving small explosions and the discovery of old weapons and explosives around Addis Ababa. The police are investigating and are conducting stop and search operations around the city. Those of Tigrayan ethnicity are likely to be stopped, including at the airport. You should follow the instructions of the authorities.
• Nigeria * GOV.UK * 28 November 2020 – at least 70 civilians were killed and others wounded and abducted in Jere Local Government Area, Borno State, by insurgents.
• Pakistan * GOV.UK * On 4 December 2020, there was an explosion near to Pir Wadhai bus station in Rawalpindi killing at least one person and injuring at least seven. The Pakistan authorities are investigating the cause of the blast. You should remain vigilant and follow the instructions of local authorities.

Demonstrations and Social Unrest

• Cameroon * GOV.UK * General strikes (or ‘ghost towns’) are called in the North West and South West (Anglophone) regions for each Monday, with additional days often called in particular periods including February, May and October. Violence and travel disruption is regularly reported on these days. Separatists have also called for a lockdown across the North West and South West regions from 4 to 7 December. Movement within the North West and South West regions will likely be limited. If you decide to travel to, or within, areas of the North West and South West regions where the FCDO advises against all travel or all but essential travel, you should consider carefully the risks of travel, monitor developments closely, keep a low profile and minimise your movements. See North West and South West (Anglophone) regions. Regional council elections are due to take place across the country on 6 December. Be vigilant at all times and avoid political demonstrations and rallies.
• India * GOV.UK * Farmers unions have called for a ‘Bharat Bandh’ (nationwide general strike) on 8 December. Transport and public services may be disrupted at short notice. You should avoid large gatherings. Various farmers unions are continuing their protest at Delhi’s borders following their march to Delhi on 26 and 27 November. Traffic into the city may be affected and cause delays for both private and public transportation and other disruptions. You should closely monitor local media reports and follow the instructions of local authorities.
• Kyrgyzstan * GOV.UK *Presidential elections, and possibly a referendum, are scheduled for 10 January 2021. Whilst the scale and frequency of demonstrations has now reduced It is possible that demonstrations will continue, and could increase in frequency and scale in the run up to elections. It is possible some of these may become violent. You’re advised to avoid all crowds and demonstrations and, maintain a low profile. Follow updates on local media and any instructions from the police or other authorities.
• Slovakia * GOV.UK * The Slovak authorities have warned of protests in central Bratislava on 5 December, which may turn violent. You should avoid large political gatherings.
• Somalia * GOV.AU * Tentative dates for Somali elections have been proposed. These commence with Upper House elections in mid-October and finish in early February with the Presidential election. If you’re in Somalia despite our advice, be aware a spike in violence is likely, including possible attempts to disrupt the elections. There’s an ongoing high threat of terrorism, with attacks expected to continue. A range of measures are in place due to COVID-19. (See ‘Travel’ for more information.) If you wish to leave Somalia, leave now if it is safe to do so.
• Uganda * GOV.AU * Violent political protests can occur quickly and there remains an increased likelihood of protests across Uganda, particularly in the run up to elections in January 2021.

Law and Culture

• Qatar * GC.CA * You must have both a residence and work permit to work in Qatar. To receive these permits, you must be sponsored by an employer. While most employees are free to leave and enter Qatar, the employer controls the issuance of exit permits for essential employees. The employer may designate up to 5% of its employees as “essential”. If you are identified as an “essential employee”, you will need your employer’s permission to exit Qatar, even for personal or emergency travel. In the event of a contract or employment dispute, Qatari authorities refer to the Arabic language of a contract.
• Slovakia * GOV.UK *If you use Slovak motorways (‘Dialnica’) you must display a motorway vignette (sticker) on the inside of the windscreen of your vehicle as you enter Slovakia. Failure to display one may incur a heavy fine. You can get a motorway vignette at all major border crossings into Slovakia and at larger petrol stations.

Natural Disasters and Climate

• Chile  * ECHO Daily Flash of 07 December 2020 *  Earthquake (media, USGS, GDACS). An earthquake of 6.1 M at a depth of 100 km hit Tarapaca Region (northern Chile) on 5 December at 16.47 UTC (13.47 Local Time). The epicenter was approximately 30 km north-east of Pica Municipality (Tamarugal Province). USGS PAGER estimates that up to 319,000 people were exposed to strong shakings and up to 16,000 to moderate shakings. According to media, there are no reports of casualties or damage.
• Democratic Republic of Congo  * ECHO Daily Flash of 07 December 2020 *  Floods and landslide (media, NOAA – CPC). Flooding and landslide triggered by heavy rainfall were reported across Mbanza-Ngungu City (Kongo Central Province, western Democratic Republic of Congo) on 2-3 December, resulting in at least 18 fatalities, as reported by media. The worst affected areas are Noki and Disengomoka districts. In addition, media report 4 injured people, and several damaged or destroyed houses across the affected area. Moderate to locally heavy rain is forecast over southern Democratic Republic of Congo, including Mbanza-Ngungu on 7-9 December.
• India * GC.CA * Burevi should pass through Southern India around December 4, 2020. The storm is likely to bring excessive rainfall and violent winds. It may cause flash flooding and landslides and could severely disrupt the following essential services: transportation, power distribution, water and food supply, telecommunications networks, emergency services, medical care. The Trivandrum and Madurai airports will be closed on December 4, 2020. If you reside in the affected areas, you should exercise caution, monitor local news and weather reports, and follow the instructions of local authorities.
• Indonesia  * ECHO Daily Flash of 07 December 2020 *  Floods (BMKG, AHA Centre, BNPB). On 2-6 December, flooding triggered by heavy rainfall has been affecting Central Java Province and Aceh Province (north-western Sumatra). According to Indonesian authorities, one person died in Aceh and about 7,168 people have been displaced in the  same Province. At least 13,675 houses and 2 bridges have been damaged or destroyed and about 48,184 people have been affected by the flooding event. In Central Java, flooding affected about 950 people in Cilap Regency, as reported by AHA Centre. Orange alerts for heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and strong wind have been issued for Central Java and Aceh. Rainfall is forecast over most of Central Java, including Cilap, on 7-8 December, and over Aceh on 8-9 December.  
• Italy  * ECHO Daily Flash of 07 December 2020 *  Severe weather (ANSA, Copernicus EMS, MeteoAM, Italian Civil Protection). Severe weather, including heavy rain and snowfall and strong wind, has been affecting most of Italy since 4 December, triggering floods and landslides that have resulted in casualties and damage. Media report, as of 7 December, 2 fatalities (one in Varese and one in Potenza Province). Media also report, 75 evacuated families across Modena Province and 76 evacuated people in Belluno Province. In addition, media report a collapsed bridge in Belluno Province, the temporarily closure of highways across Liguria, Brennero Highway is open  but there are still some railway interruptions.  Over the next 24 hours, more heavy rainfall is forecast over northern and central Regions, as well as over Sardinia Island and Calabria. Heavy snowfall is forecast over south-western Piedmont, northern Veneto, and Trentino-South Tyrol. The Italian Civil Protection has issued, as of 6 December, a red alert for Veneto, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Emilia-Romagna, and Bolzano Province (Trentino-South Tyrol). The Copernicus EMS was activated in rapid mapping mode (EMSR487) on 6 December, in order to support the damage assessment.
• Italy  * ECHO Daily Flash of 07 December 2020 *  Floods and flood warnings (European Flood Awareness System – EFAS). Warning level 3/3 and 2/3 for Veneto, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Emilia Romagna, Trentino Alto Adige regions. 
• Nepal  * ECHO Daily Flash of 07 December 2020 *  Factsheet (DG ECHO). Due to its location and variable climatic conditions, Nepal is one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world. Climate change and an increasing population further exacerbate the impacts of natural hazards, which each year cause heavy loss of life and damage to property. Due to increased disaster risks posed by the climate crisis, EU funding in Nepal over the last few years has focused on supporting initiatives aimed at strengthening the disaster preparedness of local institutions and assisting them in programme implementation. In 2020, the EU allocated over EUR 2.15 million in humanitarian assistance to the country, bringing the total humanitarian funding to more than EUR 107 million since 2001, including more than EUR 30 million allocated to disaster preparedness and risk reduction activities.
• Slovenia  * ECHO Daily Flash of 07 December 2020 *  Floods and flood warnings (European Flood Awareness System – EFAS). 1/1 treshold level for Drava, Sava, Ljubljanica, Vipavka, Pivka and Reka rivers.
• Spain and Serbia  * ECHO Daily Flash of 07 December 2020 *  Meteoalarm, as of 7 December at 8.00 UTC (EUMETNET, EUMETNET). On 7 December: red alert for coastal events over northern Spain, and for strong wind over northern Serbia.
• Thailand  * ECHO Daily Flash of 07 December 2020 *  Floods update (TMD, media). Southern Thailand continues to be affected by floods triggered by heavy rainfall, which caused an increase in the number of casualties and damage. According to media, at least 20 people have died in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, which is the worst-hit area. More than 553,000 households have been affected by flooding and thousands of people have been evacuated, many areas in Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Trang, Phatthalung and Songkhla Provinces are still inundated. Rainfall with thunderstorms is forecast over most of southern Thailand on 7-8 December.

Other

• The Gambia * GOV.UK * A compulsory Airport Security Fee must be paid upon entering and exiting the country. The fee is 20 dollars, or equivalent in euros, sterling or local currency. This will be collected via marked kiosks in Banjul International Airport. Visa credit card is accepted. Children below 2 years of age and passengers in transit are exempt.
• Zimbabwe * GOV.UK * Zimbabwe is currently experiencing a shortage of cash. Cash withdrawals can be made at some ATMs and bank branches with an international bank card but availability cannot always be guaranteed. . Credit and debit cards are increasingly being used for transactions. You should always ensure that you are being charged in the correct currency. There are also some challenges with international transfers from outside of Zimbabwe.

Please note the revision date (mmddyy) of this report, printed on the title of the post, and go to the direct sources listed for the most up-to-date information.  The information in this report may change without prior notice.