World Status Report

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

• U.S. authorises departure of non-emergency staff from Nigeria (Reuters on MSN.com). The U.S. State Department on Tuesday authorised the departure of non-emergency U.S. government employees and their families from Nigeria due to a heightened risk of terrorist attacks in the country.
• PNG politician pleads for more police following island massacre (RNZ). The MP for the area of Papua New Guinea where 22 people have died in an outbreak of violence is calling on the national police to send more personnel.
• ‘Guayakill’: Ecuadoran port city torn apart by gangs (YAHOO!News). Entire neighborhoods run by gangs, prison bloodbaths and police overwhelmed by criminal firepower. So far this year, the commercial heart of Ecuador has seen 1,200 murders — 60 percent more than in 2021 according to official data.

Demonstrations

• Iran protests rage overnight after Mahsa Amini memorial (The Guardian). Blasts heard as security forces reportedly open fire on protesters mourning death of Kurdish woman

Natural Disasters

• Whilst still suffering from the impact of a 7M earthquake three months ago, another 6.4M earthquake occurred on 25 October at 14.49 UTC (22.59 local time) in Abra Province (northern Luzon, northern Philippines) (ERCC). National authorities report 44 injured, 341 displaced people and more than 61,500 affected across the Regions of Ilocos, Cordillera Administrative Region, and Cagayan Valley, and 1,821 houses damaged.
• Floods, river overflow, and landslides caused by heavy rainfall were reported on 25-26 October across Java Island (Indonesia) (ERCC). Flooding left about 21,200 affected persons in Cirebon City (West Java), and 1,060 persons in  Gresik Regency (East Java).
• Since 22 October, heavy rainfall has been affecting parts of Colombia (ERCC), causing floods and landslides and resulting in casualties.
• Cyclone in Bangladesh Leaves at Least 28 Dead, Millions Without Power (Yahoo). Cyclong Sitrang swept over Bangladesh on Tuesday, October 25, killing at least 28 people and displacing around a million while uprooting trees, damaging thousands of homes, toppling power lines, and causing widespread flooding.
• The food security of more than 5.6 million people across Africa is under threat as result of flooding, a new study warns (WEF). The work comes at a time when floods have also devastated Pakistan, India, large parts of the European Union, and the United States.
• As growing climate change impacts are experienced across the globe, the message that greenhouse gas emissions must fall is unambiguous (UNEP). Yet the Emissions Gap Report 2022: The Closing Window – Climate crisis calls for rapid transformation of societies finds that the international community is falling far short of the Paris goals, with no credible pathway to 1.5°C in place. Only an urgent system-wide transformation can avoid climate disaster.

Health

• Latest data shared by WHO indicates that fungal diseases are expanding in number and reach worldwide (UN News). Global warming and the increase of international travel and trade are believed to be responsible, the UN health agency said. There are only four types of antifungal medicine available today, which is a problem, as fungal infections are becoming more common and resistant to treatment.

Covid

• Qatar drops coronavirus restrictions just before World Cup (AP). DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Qatar will drop most of its coronavirus restrictions beginning Nov. 1, just before it hosts the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Ebola

• Uganda steps up Ebola response as virus infects 109, kills 30 (Reuters) The number of confirmed Ebola cases in Uganda has risen to 109 and the outbreak has claimed 30 lives, Health Minister Jane Ruth Aceng said on Wednesday, adding that the government was setting up an additional treatment centre.
• Uganda plans to start trials for Ebola candidate vaccines in two weeks as it seeks to curb the spread of the disease (Bloomberg), with infections confirmed in several districts including the capital, Kampala.

Monkeypox

• Researchers warn of severe monkeypox in some patients. The 57 patients included 12 men who died, and the CDC attributes 5 of those deaths directly to the virus.

Migration

• Over the past week, the US returned 7,000 Venezuelans to Northern Mexico border cities (Ciudad de Juarez, Reynosa), under an expansion of Title 42 (ERCC). Host cities lack the capacity to respond to this influx of vulnerable stranded migrants. In Reynosa, 8,000 to 13,000 persons are estimated to be in need of humanitarian assistance and 2,000 surviving on the streets. Paid volunteer paid return flights are being organised from Mexico to Caracas (200 USD). Daily returns continue, while at the same time, displacement pressure is building up in Southern Mexico border. In Oaxaca 18,000 people are stranded, response capacity is exceeded.

Humanitarian needs

• Over 1.4 million people are currently facing severe food insecurity in Mozambique due to the security situation (ERCC), the drought, and the socio-economic impact of COVID-19 mitigating measures. The fragile humanitarian situation the northern province of Cabo Delgado continues to deteriorate.
• Climatic shocks and a deteriorating economic environment have left almost 4.7 million people in Zimbabwe requiring humanitarian assistance (ERCC). The COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to reduced income and food sources, and the local population’s inability to access essential commodities.
• Nine hundred thousand people in drought-stricken areas of Somalia live under control or influence (AP) of the militant group al-Shabab, which is preventing humanitarian aid from reaching its territory, the United Nations’ Somalia envoy said. He said talks are ongoing to provide aid to the areas amid threats of famine.

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.

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