World Status Report
February 9, 2023
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
- Since the December 2020 presidential elections, the Central African Republic (CAR) is torn by violence opposing armed groups against government forces (ERCC). The situation remains extremely volatile, with serious human rights violations.
- Burkina Faso’s crisis continues to deteriorate quickly and severely (ERCC), as the internal conflict has intensified and caused massive population displacements, with a substantial increase in 2022.
- Following the killing of a Somaliland opposition politician in December 2022 (ERCC), Laas Caanood has experienced confrontations between Somaliland forces and protesters. Both sides exchanged gunfire, with the Somaliland security forces accused of utilizing heavy weaponry claiming civilian lives and destroying public properties. Unconfirmed reports indicate 20 people have died, 7 of them children, and 119 people have been injured – fighting continues. UN reports close to 20,000 people displaced by this conflict in the last seven days.
- A lack of job opportunities is the leading factor driving people to join fast-growing violent extremist groups in sub-Saharan Africa (UN News), according to a new report released by the UN Development Programme on Tuesday.
- Three protesters killed in attack on UN convoy in DR Congo (Africanews on MSN.com). At least three demonstrators were killed Tuesday in an attack on a UN convoy in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the United Nations mission in the country said in a statement.
- Almost half of companies surveyed by the American Chamber of Commerce in Taiwan (Reuters on MSN.com) are revising or plan to revise their business continuity plans amid tensions with China, while a growing number reported being impacted by those strains.
- Azerbaijan, Iran and Rising Tensions in the Caucasus (Bloomberg L.P.) Azerbaijan and Iran — majority Shiite Muslim countries that share strong ethnic and linguistic ties and centuries of history — saw the worst escalation in their tense relations in January when the Azerbaijani embassy in Tehran came under an armed attack. That followed Iran’s military buildup on its border with Azerbaijan in a dispute between the neighbors over Israel.
Demonstrations
- In Peru’s Andes, anger hardens as fast election hopes fade (Yahoo News). Protests and roadblocks in Peru’s southern Andes have hardened after Congress failed to bring forward elections, jamming up much of the region, which is rich in copper and historic Incan sites like Machu Picchu.
Natural Disasters
- In Arequipa region in southern Peru (ERCC), overflowing rivers dragging stones and mud have left at least 40 people dead, 20 injured, two missing and 12,000 homeless. 17 districts are declared in emergency due to the intense rains and landslides (huaicos).
- In Indonesia, a landslide occurred on a mining site in Gekbrong District, Cianjur Regency in the West Java Province on 4 February (ERCC) leading to three fatalities. In addition, heavy rain has been affecting Java and Kalimantan since the past week resulting in floods.
- Several wildfires continue to burn across central and southern Chile (ERCC), causing casaulties and widespread damage. The worst affected regions are Bío Bío, Araucanía, Ñuble, Maule, Los Ríos, Los Lagos, Aysén, O’Higgins, Valparaíso, and Santiago Metropolitan.
- The death toll is increasing following the 7.8 M earthquake of 6 February in southern Türkiye close to the border with northern Syria (ERCC). Almost 650 aftershocks up to 7.5 M have been recorded in the area.
- Since 3 February, floods caused by heavy rainfall have been affecting particularly in the States of Chiapas and Tabasco in southern Mexico (ERCC), resulting in casualties.
Health
- The number of COVID-19 cases has reached record levels in mainland China (ECDC). There continues to be limited data on COVID-19 cases, hospital admissions, deaths and ICU capacity and occupancy in China. High levels of SARS-CoV-2 infections and increased pressure on healthcare services in China are anticipated due to low population immunity and the relaxation of non-pharmaceutical interventions. Projection models published by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington anticipate steep increases in infections, hospitalisations, and deaths through April 2023. However, in the absence of more detailed and timely data from official sources on epidemiological indicators and sequencing, the public health impact, and the size and severity of the current surge of COVID-19 cases are difficult to assess.
- South Africa has recorded two confirmed imported cases of cholera (Reuters), the health department said on Sunday, as it called for vigilance.
- Peru confirms H5N1 avian flu in marine mammals, part of southward spread (CIDRAP). The World Organization for Animal Health notes increasing detections in mammals in recent months, which warrants close monitoring.
- Bangladesh reports more Nipah virus cases and deaths (CIDRAP). Two more cases have been confirmed, raising the total to 10 cases, 7 of them fatal.
- Doctor Accused of Spreading Deadly Meningitis Arrested in Mexico (Voice of America). Mexican police detained a medical doctor accused of using infected medicines that may have caused a mysterious meningitis outbreak in northern Durango state, after the disease killed at least 35 women in recent months.
- Up to 10 million people could die annually by 2050 due to anti-microbial resistance (AMR) (UN News), the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) said in a report launched in Bridgetown, Barbados, on Tuesday, highlighting the need to curtail pollution created by the pharmaceuticals, agricultural and healthcare sectors.
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
-
Traveling to the UK? You need an ETA
UK opens pre-travel requirement to non-Europeans, November 27, 2024 The UK government is introducing electronic travel authorisation (ETA) for millions of visitors who pass through the UK border every year, including 6 million from the USA, Canada, and Australia. From today all eligible non-European visitors can apply for an ETA and will need one to…
-
World Status Report
Media and official sources report on various risks in Argentina, Gaza, Ghana, Haiti, Israel, Lebanon, Liberia, Mexico, Mozambique, Russia, Ukraine, Vanuatu and Venezuela.
-
World Status Report
Media and official sources report on various risks in Australia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gaza, Israel, Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, Rwanda, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine and Vanuatu.
-
World Status Report
Media and official sources report on various risks in Australia, Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Fiji, French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Germany, Greece, Israel, Niger, Pakistan, Peru, Russia, Syria, Ukraine and United Kingdom.