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

• Nigeria – Increased violence (ERCC). On 24 July, an attack perpetrated by a gang of armed men in the remote Dan Gulbi district of the Maru local government area in Zamfara state has killed at least 34 people, of which 27 civilians an 7 soldiers, according to local sources.
• Sudan – Conflict humanitarian update (ERCC). Today, the war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan entered its 100th day of active conflict. Since 15 April, the fighting resulted in the displacement of over 3.3 million people, of whom over 2.6 million have been internally displaced and over 750,000 have fled to neighbouring countries. Critical civilian infrastructures in the major cities have been widely destroyed. In West Darfur, the conflict has taken an ethnic dimension as civilians are being targeted based on ethnic affiliation.
• Israeli military kills 3 alleged Palestinian gunmen in volatile West Bank (AP). The Israeli military said it shot and killed three alleged Palestinian gunmen in the northern occupied West Bank on Tuesday, the latest bloodshed in one of the most violent stretches of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in years.
• Ecuador declares state of emergency amid violent clashes (Reuters). Ecuador’s President Guillermo Lasso on Monday declared a state of emergency and night curfews in three coastal provinces, amid a wave of violence over the weekend in the Andean country that left at least eight people dead.
• Niger’s president being held inside palace – security sources (Reuters). Niger presidential guards are holding President Mohamed Bazoum inside the presidential palace in the capital, which has been blocked off by military vehicles since Wednesday morning.
• Security risks in Sweden rise due to Quran desecrations and protests, security agency says (AP). Sweden’s security situation has deteriorated after recent Quran burnings in the country and protests in the Muslim world, both of which have negatively impacted the Nordic nation’s image, its domestic security service said Wednesday.

Demonstrations

• Protests rock Israel as it passes curbs on some Supreme Court powers (Reuters). Israel’s parliament on Monday ratified the first bill of a judicial overhaul sought by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, after last-gasp compromise efforts collapsed and failed to ease a constitutional crisis convulsing the country for months.

Infrastructure

• Russia’s bombardment of Ukrainian ports along the Black Sea (UN News) could have far-reaching impacts on global food security, UN political affairs chief Rosemary DiCarlo said on Friday in a briefing to the Security Council. Ms. DiCarlo said food prices have been rising around the globe since its collapse, thus adding to the agricultural, energy and financial crises already affecting the world’s most vulnerable people. Ms. DiCarlo also expressed concern over reports of sea mines being laid in Black Sea waters, which would endanger civilian ships.
• Why Indian rice export ban is so important to global trade (Reuters). India has prohibited the export of non-basmati white rice with immediate effect, according to a government notice on Thursday, after a late start to seasonal monsoon rains hurt the crop and raised fears of a production shortfall.

Natural Disasters

• Greece – Wildfires, update (ERCC). As of 25 July, 46 new fires occurred and the most challenging are still on Rhodes, Evia and Corfu islands.
• Tunisia – Wildfires (ERCC). Several simultaneous wildfires were recorded near the town of Tabarka in the North West of Tunisia, prompting the evacuation of around 2,500 people in the village of Melloula, Jendouba province.
• Philippines – Volcanic activity, update (ERCC). Local authorities ordered an additional 7,000 people to be evacuated from the area around Mayon Volcano, as effusion of lava at the volcano site was reported over the past 24 hours.
• Philippines – Tropical cyclone DOKSURI, update (ERCC). Heavy rainfall already caused by the passage of DOKSURI resulted in casualties across northern and central Philippines.
• Italy – Wildfires (ERCC). According to the Italian Civil Protection, as of 25 July, in the past 24 hours 35 new wildfires have affected southern and central Italy, in particular Sicily, Calabria, Sardinia, Puglia and Abruzzo Regions, resulting in casualties and widespread damage. Among these wildfires, 16 were contained or fully extinguished.
• Afghanistan – 12 Dead, 40 Missing in Floods in Maidan Wardak Province (Flood List). State news sources in Afghanistan report raging flash floods in Maidan Wardak Province have destroyed homes, killed at least 12 people and left a further 40 unaccounted for.

Health

• Avian influenza A(H5N1) in Europe (ECDC). As of 19 July, 2023, avian influenza A(H5N1) has been detected in 10 fur farms in Ostrobothnia, Finland, hosting foxes (blue and silver) and mink. As of 17 July 2023, 61 samples from 60 cats and one caracal were tested for influenza A(H5N1) in Poland, and 34 were found positive. On 14 July 2023, the United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) informed that influenza A (H5N1) has been detected in two additional asymptomatic poultry workers. Risk for the general population at this time is deemed low.
• South Korea detects H5N1 avian flu in shelter cats (CIDRAP). An investigation is underway into the source of the virus, as health officials continue monitoring human contacts and other animal facilities. The infections in cats add to concerns about the rising number of H5N1 detections in mammal species, including at fur farms in Finland. Scientists are closely watching for genetic clues about whether the virus has changed to more easily infect and spread among mammals.
• West Nile virus in Europe (ECDC). Human cases of West Nile Virus (WNV) were reported by Italy (1), Greece (1) and Hungary (1) since the last update and as on 19 July 2023.
• Level 1 – Dengue in Africa and the Middle East (CDC). Dengue is a risk in many parts of Africa and the Middle East. Some countries are reporting increased numbers of cases of the disease. Travelers to Africa and the Middle East can protect themselves by preventing mosquito bites.
• Dengue risk worldwide (UN News). Global warming marked by higher average temperatures, precipitation and longer periods of drought, could prompt a record number of dengue infections worldwide, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Friday.
• 17 deaths associated with Rickettsia in Baja California (Border Report). Rickettsia is spread by ticks, lice, fleas, and mites found in animals such as dogs. It lives in people’s bloodstream, slowly damaging their skin, lungs, brain and other organs until they die. As the weather heats up, more cases are expected since most Rickettsia deaths occur during the summer. According to the National Institute of Health, Rickettsia’s common symptoms develop within one week of infection and include fever, headache, malaise, nausea, or vomiting.

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

---