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

• Poland’s leader says Russia’s moving tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus, shifting regional security (ABC). Poland’s President Andrzej Duda confirmed Tuesday that Russia has begun shifting some short-range nuclear weapons to neighboring Belarus, a move that he said will change the security architecture of the region and the entire NATO military alliance.
• As Saied entrenches himself in power, police brutality grows in Tunisia (Al Jazeera). The sense that Tunisia’s police are now largely defining what is and what is not acceptable in public is growing, according to observers.
• Mexican army says drug cartels are increasing their use of roadside bombs (AP News). The Mexican army said Tuesday that drug cartels have increased their use of roadside bombs or improvised explosive devices this year, with 42 soldiers, police and suspects wounded by IEDs so far in 2023, up from 16 in 2022.
• Argentina arrests dozens in looting attempts amid fear of growing violence ahead of October election (AP News). Argentine authorities have reported a large number of arrests for lootings and attempted lootings in recent days, raising concerns about violence ahead of October presidential elections and prompting the president to appeal for calm.

Demonstrations

• Residents in southern Syria raid ruling party offices, block road as protests over economy intensify (AP). Angry protesters raided the local offices of the ruling Baath party in a southern Syrian province Wednesday, as protests intensified against the country’s government during a severe economic and financial crisis battering the war-torn country.

Infrastructure

• India is expected to ban mills from exporting sugar in the next season beginning October (Reuters), halting shipments for the first time in seven years, as a lack of rain has cut cane yields, three government sources said. India’s absence from the world market would be likely to increase benchmark prices in New York and London that are already trading around multi-year highs, triggering fears of further inflation on global food markets. Patchy rains would cut sugar output in the 2023/24 season and even reduce planting for the 2024/25 season, an industry official, who declined to be named, said.

Natural Disasters

• Pakistan – Floods (ERCC). Monsoon rains hit Pakistan and India in the last months, causing floods and leading to casualties and damage.
• Türkiye- Wildfires (ERCC). Since 22 August, a wildfire has been affecting Canakkale Province in north-western Türkiye, resulting in evacuations and damage.
• India – Landslide and bridge collapse (ERCC). Heavy rainfall has affected the northern Himalayan States of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, leading to casualties and significant damage. On 23 August, a landslide in Himachal Pradesh resulted in over 10 deaths, stranding 82 and damaging 121 houses. In Kullu district, multiple buildings collapsed.
• Greece – Wildfires, update (ERCC). As of 24 August, wildfires continue to burn across Greece, most affected areas being Alexandroupolis, Dadia and Rodopi Municipalities in East Macedonia, Fyli Municipality in north-eastern Attica (Central Greece), Viotia (Central Greece), and Evia Island. A total of 99 forest fires, including 55 occurring in the last 24 hours.
• USA – Tropical storm HILARY, update (ERCC). Heavy rainfall, associated to the passage of the tropical storm HILARY and its remnants on 20-21 August, affected southern California (USA), causing floods and mudslides that have resulted in evacuations and damage.
• USA – Wildfires (ERCC). Wildfires have been burning across the Washington State, north-western USA, since 18 August, prompting evacuations and causing casualties and widespread damage.
• Dominican Republic – Hundreds Displaced as Tropical Storm Franklin Triggers Floods and Landslides (floodlist). Authorities in the Dominican Republic report 2 people are missing, 2 were injured and hundreds have been displaced from their homes after heavy rain and strong winds brought by Tropical Storm Franklin.

Health

• Dengue outbreak in Bangladesh sparks alarm after 364 people die this year and infections riseDengue outbreak in Bangladesh sparks alarm after 364 people die this year and infections rise (AP). Officials warn that the number of deaths and infections this month could set a new, grim record. In the first 10 days of August, more than 23,000 people were diagnosed with dengue, compared to 43,854 cases during all of July. More than 100 people have died so far this month, over a third as many deaths from the illness during all of last year.
• The WHO is closely monitoring another new COVID-19 variant, nicknamed Pirola (ABC). BA.2.86 is considered a Variant Under Monitoring. The WHO said it made this classification “due to the large number of mutations it carries”.
• Return of El Niño raises risk of hunger, drought and malaria, scientists warn (The Guardian). As it grows stronger, scientists fear it will raise the risk in some countries of hunger, drought and malaria. Coupled with hotter global temperatures from burned fossil fuels, the shift could make a host of heat-related dangers worse, from heart disease to suicide.

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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