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 publication date of this report, and go to the direct sources linked for the most up-to-date information.  The information in this report may change without prior notice.

Security

Armed violence in Burkina Faso continues to cause forced displacements, now affecting 1,147,699 internally displaced individuals.  This is likely to increase humanitarian needs in the country (ERCC). The UN Secretary-General on Friday issued an urgent appeal for all parties involved in this week’s escalation of violence in the occupied Palestinian enclave of Gaza, and Israel, to “immediately cease the fighting”, or risk creating an “uncontainable security and humanitarian crisis” (UN News). Conflict in Israel and Palestine is escalating in ways that we have seen before. But what distinguishes this latest iteration of the Arab-Israeli conflict is that violence is spreading within Israel (UN Dispatch). Progress on laws to boost LGBT+ rights has come to a virtual standstill in Europe amid a rise in homophobic and anti-transgender rhetoric by politicians in countries including Poland and Hungary, an advocacy group has warned (MSN News). World Health Organization Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the situation in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, where fighting has continued for months, is “horrific” (AFP). Belarus‘ President signed legislation giving law enforcement officers more latitude to shoot protesters (RFE/RL). Colombia‘s President ordered a mass deployment of police and other security forces to clear roads as protests continue throughout the country (MercoPress).

Health

An international alliance of food security agencies released The Global Report on Food Crises which found that the number of people facing acute food insecurity and “needing urgent life and livelihood-saving assistance” hit a five-year high last year (UN Dispatch).

Natural Disasters

Tropical Cyclone TAUKTAE made landfall in the afternoon of 17 May over the coast of Saurashtra, India.  Its impact has resulted in fatalities, displacement and damage (ERCC). An earthquake of 5.4 M occurred in North Khorasan Province (north-eastern Iran) on 17 May.  Its impact has resulted in injuries, displacement and damage (ERCC). Rivers in Brazil‘s Amazon region have risen to near record levels after heavy rains, flooding small towns and threatening areas hit hard by Covid-19 with another disaster (BBC News).

COVID-19

International preventative measures against COVID-19, including entry restrictions and in-country mobility remain very fluid, and can be imposed without prior notice. Details for each country can be found in the travel advisories issued by the governments of the United States, Canada, the UK, New Zealand, and Australia.  The UNWTO and IATA Destination Tracker offers relevant information on a destination status. The Timeline of EU Member States Reopening Their Borders  offers a list of opened EU countries for travelers, and dates of warned opening.

As notable cases: A major physicians’ group in Japan has joined the chorus of voices calling on Tokyo and the International Olympic Committee to cancel the upcoming 2020 Tokyo Games (WaPo). Taiwan will temporarily ban foreign nationals from entering the country beginning Wednesday (CNN). An IATA sampling of costs for PCR tests in 16 countries showed wide variations by markets and within markets. Even taking a low-end average would nearly double travel costs for a family of four (IATA).

Globally, as of 18 May, Johns Hopkins University counts 163,743,123 COVID-19 cases and 3,392,772 deaths, and the WHO COVID-19 dashboard reports 163,212,543 cases and 3,383,979 deaths.

As notable cases: The only coronavirus testing laboratory in Gaza was partially destroyed in an Israeli airstrike (WaPo). India reports highest daily pandemic death toll as experts warn of rural surge (WaPo). Taiwan will close all schools and education centers for 10 days amid a rapid rise in Covid-19 cases, the Ministry of Health announced Tuesday (CNN). Thailand reported 35 fatalities from Covid-19 Tuesday, its highest daily death toll since the pandemic began (CNN). Covid crisis reaches Nepal with a surge in cases and hospitalizations (MSN News)

Vaccination campaigns around the world continue.  As of 17 May, Our World in Data reports 1.50 billion administered vaccine doses globally. The WHO COVID-19 dashboard reports as of 12 May over 1.26 billion administered vaccine doses.

As notable cases: It could take at least 10 years for Venezuela to fully vaccinate its population against the coronavirus, the president of the nation’s Academy of Medicine warned (WaPo). India is unlikely to resume large-scale exports of coronavirus vaccines until at least October (Reuters).

Please note the publication date of this report and go to the direct sources linked for the most up-to-date information.  The information in this report may change without prior notice.