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

• Yemen – Escalation of conflict (ERCC). On 12 January, the US/UK conducted joint airstrikes targeting multiple miliary sites in Yemen controlled by Ansar Allah (AA), including in Sana’a and Hodeidah. The airstrikes were in direct response to the escalation of AA attacks on international vessels and commercial shipping in the Red Sea. Despite, AA have not stopped their attacks and on 15 January, the group targeted a US-owned cargo ship with a missile.
• The U.S. Navy carried out a third round of strikes against Houthi militants in Yemen on January 16 (Reuters) in response to Houthi attacks on commercial ships traveling on the Red Sea. While the U.S. says it knocked out Houthi missiles during the strike, the Houthis still managed to launch missiles that hit a Greek-owned ship hours later. The Houthis claim they are attacking ships with connections to Israel.
• Ukraine: Civilian casualties spike following wave of Russian attacks (UN News). Hundreds of people across the country were killed or wounded in drone and missile strikes in the 10-day period between 29 December and 8 January alone. The recent wave of attacks started on 29 December with missiles and drones that pounded cities and towns across Ukraine. The most extensive attacks and the highest numbers of civilian casualties happened on that day and on 2 January but fatalities have continued.
• Nicaragua Travel Advisory (DOS). The Department has determined the risk of wrongful detention of U.S. nationals by the Government of Nicaragua exists. U.S. citizens arrested in Nicaragua may find themselves subject to prolonged detention without charges or respect of fair trial guarantees. The judicial process lacks transparency, especially in politically motivated arrests and property dispute cases. Political influence and pressure may influence the outcome of legal proceedings.
• Intense Israeli strikes in south Gaza city as hostages sent medicine (BBC). Residents of Khan Younis in southern Gaza say they have faced one of the most intense nights of air strikes since the start of Israel’s offensive.
• Israel carries out intense strikes on Hezbollah in south Lebanon (Reuters). Israel unleashed an intense barrage of air strikes on a valley in south Lebanon, Lebanese security sources and the Israeli military said, after a rare Israeli acknowledgment of a special forces operation on the border.
• New doctrine in Russia ally Belarus for the first time provides for using nuclear weapons (Associated Press). The defense minister of Belarus said Tuesday that the country closely allied with Russia will put forth a new military doctrine that for the first time provides for the use of nuclear weapons. Russia last year sent tactical nuclear weapons to be stationed in Belarus, although there are no details about how many. Russia has said it will maintain control over those weapons, which are intended for battlefield use and have short ranges and comparatively low yields.
• Wave of transgender slayings in Mexico spurs anger and protests by LGBTQ+ community (AP News). Authorities in Mexico said at least three transgender people were killed in the first two weeks of 2024, and rights groups were investigating two additional such cases.

Demonstrations

• Serbian opposition supporters return to the streets claiming fraud in last month’s election (Associated Press). Serbian opposition supporters were back in the streets on Tuesday, accusing President Aleksandar Vucic’s populist government of orchestrating fraud in last month’s parliamentary and local elections.
• Supporters of former Haitian rebel leader Guy Philippe launch widespread protests (AP News). Supporters of former rebel leader Guy Philippe have launched protests that have paralyzed some cities across Haiti as they demand the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry.

Infrastructure

• Snow and ice warnings cripple Munich, Frankfurt airports (Deutsche Welle). Severe snow and freezing rain warnings are in effect for most of the south and west of Germany. The country’s two biggest airports preemptively cut hundreds of flights.
• Cold wave in north India disrupts flights for fourth day (Reuters). A cold wave bringing dense fog this week to parts of northern India disrupted flights for a fourth straight day on Wednesday, delaying more than 100 and forcing cancellations of about 20.
• More manufacturers are seeking to fly their products as attacks on Red Sea shipping force them to find alternate routes (Reuters), logistics firms say, a potential boon for a sector dealing with muted post-pandemic demand and overcapacity. Here is how companies are responding to attacks on ships in the Red Sea (Reuters).

Environment

• Reunion, Mauritius – Tropical cyclone BELAL, update (ERCC). The passage of the tropical cyclone BELAL over Reunion on 15 January in the morning (UTC) caused casualties and severe damage.
• Peru – Landslide (ERCC). A landslide triggered by heavy rainfall occurred on 14 January in La Parque Town in the District of Juan Espinoza Medrano, Antabamba Province in Apurímac Region, southern Perú, resulting in casualties and damage.
• Bolivia – Floods (ERCC). Heavy rainfall has been affecting western Bolivia, particularly La Paz department over the last 48 hours, causing floods that have resulted in casualties and damage.
• Republic of the Congo – Floods (ERCC). Heavy rainfall has affected most of the Republic of the Congo over the last weeks, causing the water level of the Congo river and its tributaries to rise and trigger floods that have resulted in casualties and widespread damage.
• South Africa – Floods, update (ERCC). The number of casualties increased after the floods due to heavy rainfall and thunderstorms that affected the KwaZulu-Natal province, in eastern South Africa since 12 January.
• Evacuation underway for stranded tourists after multiple avalanches trap 1,000 people in China (AP News). Rescuers evacuated tourists on Tuesday from a remote skiing area in northwestern China where dozens of avalanches triggered by heavy snow have trapped more than 1,000 people for a week, state media said.
• WMO confirms 2023 as warmest year on record ‘by a huge margin’ (UN News). The World Meteorological Organization uses six leading international datasets from across the globe to monitor global temperatures, which reveal a new annual temperature average of 1.45°C set against the pre-industrial era (1850-1900).
• Scientists with the UK Animal and Plant Health Agency and the British Antarctic Survey this week announced they have detected avian flu in seals and other animals (The Guardian) for the first time in the sub-Antarctic region, on the island of South Georgia. Experts suspected avian flu was the cause of elephant seal deaths there after the virus was confirmed to be the cause of death of several brown skua seabirds in the region in October 2023. After a 3-week expedition in December 2023, scientists detected the virus, highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 (HPAI H5N1), in samples from deceased elephant seals, fur seals, brown skuas, kelp gulls, and Antarctic terns. The current global outbreak of H5N1, which has killed millions of poultry farm and wild birds, could be devastating to the fragile ecosystems of the Antarctic.

Health

• Measles (ECDC). In November 2023, 429 cases of measles were reported by twelve countries. Between January and November 2023, 2 242 cases of measles were reported in The European Surveillance System (TESSy) by 22 countries. Overall, measles transmission currently remains low in the EU/EEA.
• Western Equine Encephalitis Virus in Argentina (CDC). There are reports of confirmed and probable human cases of Western equine encephalitis virus (WEEV) infection in rural areas of several provinces in Argentina with WEEV activity in horses. Travelers to the affected regions of Argentina should take steps to prevent mosquito bites and seek medical care immediately if they develop fever, headache, neck stiffness, photophobia (sensitivity to light), or confusion during or after travel.
• Zimbabwe – Surge in the number of Cholera cases (ERCC). As of 10 January, Zimbabwe has recorded 16,815 suspected cholera cases, 2,019 confirmed cases, 67 confirmed deaths and 308 suspected deaths. The case fatality rate is 2.2%.
• Global mortality from fungal diseases has nearly doubled (CIDRAP). New estimates suggest 3.75 million deaths annually are linked to invasive fungal infections, of which 2.55 million are directly attributable.
• Virginia officials warn of measles exposures at 2 international airports (CIDRAP). Health officials are identifying people who were exposed, including those on specific flights.

Migration

• South Sudan – Forced displacement due to the conflict in Sudan (ERCC). South Sudan is heavily impacted by the ongoing conflict in Sudan and on 14 January, a new milestone was reached with 501,943 having now crossed the border into South Sudan. Sudanese nationals are now accounting for almost 50% of new arrivals, which translates into a change in the needs. The Sudan crisis adds more needs to the already dire humanitarian situation in South Sudan.

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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