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

• Mali – Conflict, impact on civilians, humanitarian access (ERCC). The security situation in northern and central Mali remains precarious. Clashes between non-state armed groups continue to impact civilians, the latest in Menaka on 20 August causing 3 civilian casualties.  
• More than 200 Palestinians and nearly 30 Israelis have been killed so far this year (UN News) in demonstrations, clashes, military operations, attacks and other incidents, which already surpasses last year’s death toll, UN Middle East envoy Tor Wennesland said in a briefing to the Security Council on Monday.
• After four months of war in Sudan, UN humanitarians on Tuesday called for action to be taken to end the conflict (Un News) which is having a “devastating impact” on people’s lives, health and well-being.
• An escalation of Russian attacks against civilians in Ukraine has brought more death and injuries to southern regions while hampering aid operations (UN News), the UN’s top humanitarian official in the country said on Monday.

Demonstrations

• Bangladesh: Hundreds injured after ruling, opposition parties clash in Habiganj (Big News Network.com). Over 100 people including police officials were injured after the clash between the ruling Awami League and opposition Bangladesh National Party BNP supporter.

Infrastructure

• The Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine has begun transitioning one of its reactor units from a hot shutdown to a cold shutdown (UN News) after a water leak was detected in one of its steam generators, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Thursday. According to IAEA, the nuclear power plant has been experiencing major off-site power problems since the conflict began in February 2022, exacerbating the nuclear safety and security risks facing the site currently located on the frontline.

Natural Disasters

• Philippines – Floods (ERCC). Since 18 August, heavy rains and strong winds have affected Davao Province, south-eastern Mindanao, southern Philippines, causing floods and resulting in casualties and damage.
• Algeria – Floods (ERCC). Heavy rainfall has been affecting northern Algeria, in particular the Bordj Bou Arreridj Province, and southern Algeria (Tamanrasset Province) over the past week, causing floods that have resulted in casualties and damage.
• Greece – Wildfire, update (ERCC). In the last two days, 65 new forest fires, 24 of them serious occurred across the whole of Greece.
• Canada – Wildfires (ERCC). Since 18 August, wildfires have been affecting the British Columbia Province in Canada, in particular West Kelowna City in Central Okanagan District in southern British Columbia Province, resulting in evacuations and damage.
• Disaster authorities in Chile report that over 30,000 people have evacuated their homes after heavy rainfall brought by a frontal system caused floods and mudslides (FloodList). President Gabriel Boric declared a State of Catastrophe for the hardest hit areas in Biobío and O’Higgins Regions. This is Chile’s second major flood event in 8 weeks.

Health

• In North Macedonia, on 8 August 2023, a secondary healthcare -associated case of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (ECDC) was reported among the medium-risk contacts of the index case. Eleven high-risk contacts have been identified.
• The WHO is currently tracking several COVID-19 “variants of interest” (UN News), including EG.5 which is on the rise in several countries, Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in Geneva on Wednesday. While overall risk is low, “based on its genetic features, immune escape characteristics, and growth rate estimates, EG.5 may spread globally and contribute to a surge in case incidence.” 
• Two Travelers Return to Australia from Bali with Measles (NSW Health). ​NSW Health is urging people planning to travel overseas to ensure they are fully protected against measles before they go, following two recent cases in travellers who have returned from Bali.

Migration

• Somalia – Compounding shocks and forced internal displacement (ERCC). Internal forced displacement in Somalia reached the highest recorded figures in the first half of 2023, caused by conflict, drought, and floods. The total population displaced has reached 1,465,893, with conflict and floods being the main drivers in 2023.
• Uganda – Refugee Influx (ERCC). Due to ongoing conflicts in DRC, Sudan and South Sudan, 63,286 additional refugees and asylum seekers have been registered in Uganda since the beginning of 2023.
• Haiti – Violence, Insecurity and Displacement (ERCC). Since 12 August new attacks against civilian populations by heavily armed gangs in the neighborhoods of Port-au-Prince have displaced at least 5 000 people.
• After four months, the conflict in Sudan is “spiraling out of control” (Reuters), UN agencies said yesterday in a joint statement. More than one million people have now fled to neighboring countries, while over three million are displaced within Sudan’s borders, according to the International Organization for Migration.

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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