World Status Report
October 20, 2022
This report intends to give the UTD Community a snapshot of international risks, and other issues as reported by the linked media and official sources from the U.S. and other countries.
More health and security information 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, and the CDC, ECDC, and WHO sites. Not all advise in these sites will apply to US travelers.
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
- The latest alarming airstrikes on the Tigray region [in Ethiopia] risk seriously exacerbating the already devastating impact of hostilities on civilians, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk warned (UNHR). Ethiopia’s government said it captured three towns (AFP) in the country’s Tigray region, escalating a two-year war between government forces and Tigrayan rebels after mediation attempts by the African Union fell through earlier this month.
- North Korea / South Korea – N.K. says it fired artillery shots as ‘serious warning’ over S. Korea’s military drills (Yonhap) North Korea’s military said Wednesday it fired artillery shots overnight into maritime buffer zones near the inter-Korean border as a “serious warning” over South Korea’s ongoing military drills.
- UN to vote on sanctions to curb violence, crime in Haiti (AP News). The United Nations Security Council is expected to vote Wednesday afternoon on a resolution that would demand an immediate end to violence and criminal activity in Haiti and impose sanctions on influential gang leader Jimmy Cherizier, nicknamed “Barbecue.”
- New UN data showed that 7.1 million people have fled (BBC) Venezuela since 2015 amid a political and economic crisis in the country. More than half of the emigrants are struggling to find adequate food, housing, and employment, the United Nations said.
Demonstrations
- France braces for more fuel shortages as union votes to extend strikes (The Guardian). TotalEnergies workers extend stoppages in row over pay, with transport workers joining movement
- Scattered clashes in Chile mark third anniversary of riots (Reuters). Scattered clashes around Chile between protesters and police on Tuesday marked the third anniversary of widespread protests against inequality in 2019 that left more than 30 people dead.
Natural Disasters
- Heavy rainfall and thunderstorms have been affecting Northern Mindanao Region in the Philippines over the past few days (ERCC), triggering a deadly landslide and causing flash floods that resulted in widespread damage.
- A landslide event caused by recent heavy rainfall occurred on 17 October in Cumbre Town in Coasa District (Carabaya Province, Puno Region, southern Peru) (ERCC), leading to casualties.
- Heavy rain has been affecting Paraná State (southern Brazil) over the past week (ERCC), causing floods, triggering landslides, and resulting in casualties and widespread damage.
- Since mid-September, floods caused by heavy rainfall and river overflow have been affecting south-eastern Australia (ERCC), resulting in casualties and damage.
Health
- The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has the largest number of food insecure people in the world (ERCC). Approximately 26.4 million Congolese are acutely food insecure, according to the Integrated food security Phase Classification (IPC) for the period of July to December 2022, published on 18 October 2022.
- Lebanon cholera outbreak more than doubles (Outbreaknewstoday) Confirmed cases have been reported in the following districts: Akkar (33), Minieh Dannieh (39), Ballbeck (14) and Kesrwan (3).
Ebola
- East Africa vigilant as Uganda locks down Ebola epicenter (Deutsche Welle on MSN.com). A lockdown is now in place in the two central districts of Uganda. Recently, Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda have gradually intensified surveillance along their borders with Uganda to keep Ebola out.
COVID-19
- Large Chinese cities including Shenzhen and Shanghai have ramped up testing for COVID-19 (Reuters) as infections rise. Some local authorities have swiftly closed schools, entertainment venues and tourist spots.
- More than 80% of the nearly 24 million adults in the US who have long COVID are having some trouble carrying out daily activities, according to new data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
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.
Tags
Related Posts
-
Crowds and Mass Gatherings
Mass gatherings pose unique risks due to large crowds and limitations of infrastructure, security, and health systems in the host country. This post provides strategies for assessing potential risks and implementing reasonable mitigation measures. Follow UTD policies and guidelines for International travel What are mass gatherings? The Olympic Games, The Hajj, and other major sporting,…
-
World Status Report
Media and official sources report on various risks in China, France, Gaza, Germany, Greece, Haiti, Israel, Lebanon, Mali, South Africa, South Sudan, Spain, Sudan, Vietnam, and West Bank.
-
World Status Report
Media and official sources report on various risks in Canada, Gaza, India, Israel, North Korea, Russia, Spain, Sudan and Ukraine.