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

• UN rights chief calls for probe after 87 bodies found in mass grave in Sudan (UN News). The victims, who included members of the Masalit ethnic community, were allegedly killed last month by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied militia, the UN human rights office, OHCHR, said, citing credible information.
• Sudan’s neighbors meet in Cairo for Summit as Egypt unveils new initiative to end raging conflict (AP). The meeting, hosted by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, was attended by the leaders of Ethiopia, South Sudan, Chad, Eritrea, the Central African Republic and Libya.
• Russian forces in Ukraine using old vehicles packed with explosives as bombs – UK MoD (Euronews). Russia’s army is attacking Ukrainian forces with explosive-laden old vehicles, the UK Ministry of Defence has said. 
• Explosives used in Mexico ‘terror’ attack that killed six (Reuters). Suspected gang members in western Mexico killed four security officials and two civilians and injured a dozen other people after an attack with explosives on Tuesday night near Guadalajara, Jalisco, which the local government described as an “act of terror.”

Demonstrations

• Police say officers kill at least 6 as Kenyans protest rising costs, and 50 children are tear-gassed (Associated Press). A police official says officers have killed at least six people during new protests in Kenya against the rising cost of living. In other parts of Nairobi, hundreds of protesters burned tires and dismantled part of an entrance to a recently built toll expressway that for some stands as a symbol of inequality.
• Huge Protest Demands Ouster of Bangladesh Leader (The Sun Daily). Tens of thousands of Bangladeshi opposition supporters defied monsoon rains to join a huge protest in the capital Dhaka on Wednesday to demand the prime minister’s resignation ahead of next year’s elections.

Infrastructure

• Somalia – Conflict, access to basic goods (ERCC). On 11 July, Al Shabaab (AS) imposed vehicular movement restrictions on roads to and from Baidoa town. The vehicular access restriction has affected the region’s commercial and public transport operators. The restrictions reportedly came in retaliation to a government directive to arrest individuals who heeded summons to travel to AS controlled areas.

Natural Disasters

• China – Flood (ERCC). Heavy rainfall and consequent flooding since 10 July have forced thousands of people to evacuate in China’s southwestern province of Sichuan.
• Pakistan – Floods, update (ERCC). NDMA issued a warning on 11 July about the possibility of medium to high level flooding in the Sutlej River near village Ganda Singhwala, Kasur district of Punjab. The rising water levels are expected to result in flood in Ganda Singhwala area within the next 24 to 48 hours. The district administration has evacuated about 900 villagers who are sheltered in government schools in Sahjra and Sheikhpura Nau in district Kasur.
• Japan – Severe weather, update (ERCC). The number of casualties has increased following heavy rainfall, floods and landslides in south-western Honshu and northern Kyushu Islands since early July.
• Russia – Floods (ERCC). Heavy rainfall has been affecting south-western Russia, in particular the Krasnodar Krai Region, since 9 July, causing floods and flash floods that have resulted in casualties and damage.
• Türkiye – Floods (ERCC). Heavy rainfall has been affecting the Black Sea region, northern Türkiye, since 9 July, causing floods and landslides that have resulted in casualties and damage.
• UN issues global alert to combat severe sand and dust storms (UN News). Severe sand and dust storms (SDS) are becoming increasingly common, with UN climate experts attributing the rise to human-driven causes such as climate change and unsustainable farming practices. SDS threaten the environment, agriculture, human health, and transportation infrastructure, particularly in Africa and the Middle East where desertification is most common.
• USA – Disaster Declared After “Historic and Catastrophic Flooding” in Vermont (FloodList). As of early 11 July 2023, Commissioner Morrison said “Rivers are creating severe flooding issues this morning, even along those that have not yet crested – it will take some time for rivers to recede.” A State of Disaster has been declared for all 14 counties of the state of Vermont after two months of rain in two days triggered the worst flooding since Tropical Storm Irene in 2011.
• Cerberus heatwave: Hot weather sweeps across southern Europe (BBC). A heatwave is sweeping across parts of southern Europe and north-west Africa, with potential record-breaking temperatures in the coming days. Temperatures are expected to surpass 40C (104F) in parts of Spain, France, Greece, Croatia and Turkey.

Health

• Global groups warn of ongoing H5N1 avian flu threat to people (CIDRAP). Though the virus hasn’t shifted its preference to mammalian cells, scientists see some changes that could enhance replication and allow binding to human-like receptors. The joint statement came from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH).

Humanitarian

• Yemen – Situation of migrants (ERCC). Over the past month, the number of migrants and asylum seekers arriving in Yemen along the eastern migration route has increased, due to the instability in Ethiopia and in Somalia, and further pushed by decreased patrols, better weather conditions in the Gulf of Aden, and the availability of bigger boats. Migrants face widespread, systematic human rights violations and protection risks, including abuses, trafficking, SGVB and arbitrary detention. Cases of systematic rapes and mass graves are reported. There is a worrying increase of minors or unaccompanied children, and stranded migrants, particularly in Marib.
• Continued conflict in Sudan over the next two to five months could exacerbate food insecurity (ReliefWeb), afflicting more than nineteen million people – around two fifths of the population.

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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