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

• Ecuador – Violence and insecurity (ERCC). On 9 January, Ecuador’s President, Daniel Noboa declared an “internal armed conflict” in the country, ordering security forces to “neutralize” several criminal groups accused of spreading extreme violence. The country has been rocked by explosions, police kidnappings, and prison disturbances in the last months. The President had also declared on 8 January a state of nationwide emergency for 60 days, which includes a curfew from 11 pm to 5 am.
• Russia’s war on Ukraine (ERCC). Over the past weeks, Ukraine has suffered repeated and deadly waves of airstrikes, continuing a pattern of Russian attacks against densely populated cities and towns across the country. In total, since 29 December, at least ten health facilities and eight schools have been damaged. At least 90 civilians have been killed, including 2 children, and 421 have been injured across 12 of Ukraine’s 24 regions.
• Mozambique – Violence in Cabo Delgado (ERCC). Since 3 January, 2024, Non-State Armed Groups (NSAGs) conducted several violent attacks in Cabo Delgado (Moçimboa da Praia, Macomia and Muidumbe). Most of these attacks targeted the civilian population in villages close to Moçimboa da Praia. Humanitarian partners reports four civilians killed and beheaded, as well as more than 50 houses burnt and several commercial venues looted. Among the killed was a local humanitarian worker of the Doctors without Borders (MSF).
• South Africa addressed the UN’s highest court on Thursday in a bid to end the mass killing of civilians in Gaza (UN News), accusing Israel of carrying out genocide against Palestinians there – a claim that Israel has strongly denied as “baseless”. The development came amid the ongoing and massive Israeli bombardment across the Gaza Strip in response to Hamas-led terror attacks on 7 October that left some 1,200 Israeli and foreign nationals dead in southern Israel and some 250 taken hostage.
• Papua New Guinea declares state of emergency after 16 killed in rioting (Reuters). Papua New Guinea’s prime minister declared a state of emergency on Thursday, suspending government and police officials after 16 people were killed in rioting in the Pacific island nation.
• US, UK forces shoot down Houthi missiles, drones in Red Sea – US military (Reuters). U.S. and British naval forces shot down 21 drones and missiles fired by Yemen-based Houthis on Tuesday towards international shipping lanes in the southern Red Sea, the United States said.
• An oil tanker involved in a dispute between the US and Iran was boarded by armed individuals (Reuters) east of Oman and appeared to be changing course towards Iranian waters, according to a British maritime security firm and the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations authority.
• Cartel clash in Chiapas leaves at least 20 dead according to locals (Mexico News Daily). A clash last week between the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and the rival Sinaloa Cartel left at least 20 people dead in a municipality in the mountains of Chiapas, residents reported this week.
• Somalia’s government is working to rescue the passengers of a U.N. helicopter that was captured by al Shabaab militants (Reuters), but military officers said it would be difficult to access the area where they were taken. Two Somali men and several foreigners were on board, and many were taken hostage by the militants.

Demonstrations

• Europe’s biggest economy hit by travel disruption in what ‘looks increasingly like a general strike’ (CNBC). Germany is in the grip of major travel disruption. A three-day nationwide strike called by train drivers from Wednesday to Friday evening has added to travel chaos in Europe’s biggest economy, which was already reeling from ongoing farmer protests.
• Police officers stage Paris bus parade to press demands ahead of Olympics (France24). Police officers paraded on open-top buses through Paris on Wednesday to urge authorities to accelerate talks about labour conditions and pay during the 2024 Olympics to be held in the French capital.
• Hundreds protest at First Quantum’s Panama copper mine (Reuters). About 500 people on Tuesday protested at First Quantum’s (FM.TO) copper mine in Panama to pressure the Canadian miner and authorities to follow through on plans to close the site, weeks after the Supreme Court declared its contract unconstitutional.

Infrastructure

• Ukraine – Cold wave (ERCC). Very low temperatures and strong winds up to -15° have been affecting several parts of Ukraine, resulting in power disruptions and damage.

Environment

• USA – Severe weather (ERCC). Severe weather, including heavy rainfall and strong winds, has been affecting northern and eastern USA since 9 January, causing floods and several severe weather-related incidents, particularly due to the strong wind that have resulted in casualties and damage.
• Ecuador – Landslide (ERCC). On 4 January, a huge landslide triggered by heavy rainfall occurred in Tulcán Canton, Carchi Province, northern Ecuador resulting in casualties and damage.
• Peru – Severe weather, floods and landslides, update (ERCC). Since the end of 2023 and the beginning of 2024, heavy rainfall is affecting parts of the country, causing floods, triggering landslides and resulting in damage.
• Brazil – Severe weather (ERCC). Heavy rainfall, strong winds and thunderstorms have been affecting southern Brazil, in particular the southernmost States of São Paulo, Santa Catarina, Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul since 8 January, causing floods and a number of severe weather-related incidents that have resulted in casualties and damage.
• Sri Lanka – Heavy rain and floods (ERCC). Since the end of 2023, heavy rain and strong wind has been hitting parts of the country, causing floods, landslides, and severe weather-related incidents and leading to casualties and damage.
• Indonesia – Volcanic eruption (ERCC). Since December 2023, the activity of Lewotobi Laki-laki volcano, located in the southeastern part of the island of Flores, eastern Indonesia, has resulted in an increase in displacements.
• France – Severe weather (ERCC). On 8-9 January, heavy snowfall and low temperatures have affected the 
  Île-de-France and Lower Normandy, northern-central France causing severe weather-related incidents and resulting in casualties and traffic disruptions.

Health

• 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.
• Global Polio (CDC). Some international destinations have circulating poliovirus. Before any international travel, make sure you are up to date on your polio vaccines. Before travel to any affected destination, adults who previously completed the full, routine polio vaccine series may receive a single, lifetime booster dose of polio vaccine.

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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