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

• Israel-Hamas war (UN News). The number of people killed in Gaza has reached 5,087 according to latest reports from de facto authorities there, amid intensifying Israeli airstrikes in response to Hamas attacks, while humanitarians repeated urgent calls for a ceasefire and more aid convoys. According to Israeli official sources quoted by OCHA, some 1,400 people have been killed in Israel, the vast majority in the Hamas attacks on 7 October which triggered the latest conflict. Israel mounts limited Gaza ground raids as troops mass on border (Reuters on MSN.com). Israel’s military said on Monday its ground forces mounted limited raids into Gaza and airstrikes targeted Palestinian militants assembling to repulse any wider Israeli invasion, as each side prepares for the next stage of the escalating war.
• Commission of Inquiry finds further evidence of war crimes in Ukraine (UN News). A new UN report has found continued evidence of war crimes and human rights violations committed by Russian authorities in Ukraine, including torture, rape and the deportation of children.
• The U.S. travel advisory for Iraq (DOS) has been updated to reflect the ordered departure of non-emergency U.S. government personnel and eligible family members.

Demonstrations

• Guatemala- Civil unrest (ERCC). Guatemala is experiencing increased civil unrest linked to post electoral developments this August. Tensions have grown over the past weeks with demonstrations and blockage of roads, requesting the Attorney General’s resignation. The Constitutional Court was asked to stop the demonstrations. There are concerns of violence against the protesters, negative effects on food insecurity (scarcity of food items at national levels, slow importation, price hikes), restricted access to operations and the humanitarian space, including a risk of higher NGO surveillance. 
• Thousands in Australia join pro-Palestinian march over Gaza (Reuters). Thousands took part in a pro-Palestinian march in Australia’s biggest city, Sydney, on Saturday, getting last-minute approval amid concerns after some protesters at an earlier rally had chanted anti-Jewish slogans.
• About 100,000 protesters join pro-Palestinian march through London (Reuters). About 100,000 people joined a pro-Palestinian demonstration in central London on Saturday, marching through the British capital to demand an immediate ceasefire in Gaza following the Hamas attack on Israel two weeks ago.

Infrastructure

• Train Collision in Bangladesh: A Tragic Accident Highlights Safety Concerns (BNN Breaking on MSN.com). A train collision in Bangladesh has resulted in multiple fatalities and injuries, highlighting ongoing safety concerns in the country’s railway system. The incident occurred when two passenger trains collided head-on in the Brahmanbaria district.

Environment

• Mexico – Tropical cyclone NORMA, update (ERCC). On 21-22 October, tropical cyclone NORMA made landfall over the area of Cabo San Lucas City. Media reports, as of 23 October, around 200 evacuated people in a number of shelters across the area of Cabo San Lucas City and La Paz Town.
• France – Severe weather (ERCC). In the last few days, heavy rain and strong winds affected southeastern France, causing floods and triggering landslides and resulting in casualties.
• United Kingdom – Severe weather (ERCC). On 19-20 October, heavy rain and strong winds affected the northern UK, resulting in casualties.
• Iran – Earthquake (ERCC). An earthquake of 4.7 M at a depth of 10 km occurred in Fars Province, southern Iran, on 19 October at 22:43 UTC (02:13 of 20 October local time). The epicentre was located approximately 10 km southwestern of Khaneh Zenyan City and 39 km east of Kazerun City. According to media, seven people have been injured and minor damage to buildings has been reported in Khaneh Zenyan City.
• South Africa – Severe weather and floods (ERCC). Heavy rainfall has been affecting Eastern Cape Province, causing floods, rivers overflow and severe weather-related incidents that resulted in casualties and damage. The worst-hit areas are located in the OR Tambo District in north-eastern Eastern Cape Province.
• Australia – Wildfire (ERCC). A bushfires have been affecting Western Australia, in particular Central Wheatbelt Region, since 17 October.
• Greater Horn of Africa – Impact of El Nino (ERCC). Communities in Eastern Africa, some of which are already dealing with conflict, displacement or recovery from recent disasters, are now facing the challenge of El Niño. Above-average rainfall is now expected in eastern parts of the region while below-average rainfall is expected in western areas
• WMO: Global stocktake of water resources needed (UN News). Though further research is needed, and more information from regions like Africa, the Middle East and Asia is required, the conclusions made based on data from 273 stations around the globe are straightforward, the Report authors believe. The hydrological cycle is spinning out of balance as a result of climate change and human activity. Destructive droughts and heavy rains are causing major damage, while melting snow and glaciers heighten flood risks and endanger long-term water security, WMO said.

Health

• In the 2023 dengue transmission season, as of 17 October 2023 (ECDC), seven clusters of autochthonous dengue virus transmissions involving a total of 35 cases have been reported so far in mainland France.  58 locally acquired cases of dengue fever have been detected in the Lombardy (30) and Lazio (28) regions in Italy. Since the mosquito vector Aedes albopictus is established in most of Europe, further virus introductions leading to secondary autochthonous transmissions may occur in most of the southern countries of the EU/EEA.
• An ongoing measles outbreak in France (ECDC), in the town of Guilherand Granges in the Ardèche department, has led to 58 cases being reported, as of 17 October 2023.
• Since the beginning of the 2023 west nile virus transmission season (ECDC), 661 human cases of WNV infection have been reported by EU/EEA countries and 90 by EU-neighbouring countries.
• Chad reports its first dengue outbreak (CIDRAP). Favorable conditions for mosquitos and humanitarian challenges contribute to the high transmission risk in Chad.
• Zimbabwe struggles to contain spread of cholera outbreak (Al Jazeera on MSN.com). Zimbabwe has been struggling to contain spread of cholera outbreak, with the government announcing measures amid fears of a repeat of its 2008 outbreak that sparked a “national emergency”.
• Dengue Fever Kills Hundreds in Burkina Faso as Cases Spike (Voice of America). There have been 50,478 suspected cases and 214 deaths of the mosquito-borne illness this year, the ministry said in a statement on Wednesday, mostly in the urban centres of the capital Ouagadougou and Bobo Dioulasso.
• Study: 40% of young women had HPV within 2 years of starting new relationships with men (CIDRAP). Persistent human papillomavirus infections cause most precancerous cervical lesions and cancers.

Migration and Displacement

• Mali – Conflict and displacements (ERCC). Due to the increase of confrontations between the Malian Armed Forces and the signatory armed groups of the Algiers Peace Agreement, preventive displacements are taking place. More than 5,400 people from Kidal region have been displaced to other localities within Kidal or have taken refuge in Algeria over the past weeks.
• Armenia – Refugees crisis (ERCC). According to the Government, as of October 16, the number of forcibly displaced persons from Nagorno Karabakh to Armenia remains stable at 100,632. Most refugees are in and around the area of the capital Yerevan (43%) or in the border region of Syunik (15%). While the prospect of return remains very uncertain, mobility will continue to be a defining feature of the crisis.

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

---