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 – Complex crisis (ERCC) – On 3 October, President Daniel Noboa decreed a new state of emergency in response to the rising activity of armed groups. The measure, which will be in place for 60 days, covers eight provinces of the country, including the capital city, Quito, and Guayaquil, the nation’s second largest city. The president also declared a curfew in 20 localities. 
• ‘Terrorist attack’ near Karachi airport kills two Chinese nationals, embassy says (Reuters) – Two Chinese nationals were killed in an explosion near the international airport of the southern Pakistani city of Karachi on Sunday night, the Chinese embassy in Pakistan said, in what it described as a “terrorist attack”. 
• Israel steps up Gaza bombing on war’s first anniversary (Reuters). Israel stepped up air and ground attacks on Hamas in Gaza, killing at least 52 people according to Palestinian medics, on the first anniversary of a war that has left most of the territory in ruins and shattered the lives of its people 

Demonstrations 

• Spanish truckers to stage series of strikes to demand earlier retirement (Reuters) – Spain’s truck and bus drivers will start a series of strikes on Oct. 28 to demand earlier retirement on better conditions, union leaders said on Monday. Truck drivers will walk out on Oct. 28, Nov. 11, Nov. 28, Nov. 29, Dec. 5, Dec. 9, and will begin an indefinite strike on Dec. 23 if their demands are not met, representatives of the country’s two main unions, the CCOO and UGT, told a news conference. 

Environment 

• Bangladesh – Floods (ERCC) – Heavy rainfall has been affecting northern Bangladesh since 3 October, causing floods that resulted in casualties and damage. According to media, as of 7 October, eight people died, more than 1,000 families have been evacuated, and more than 200,000 people across 200 villages have been affected by floods in Sherpur district in Mymensingh division. 
• Thailand – Floods and flash floods (ERCC) – Heavy rainfall has been affecting northern Thailand since 4 October, causing floods and the Ping River overflow that resulted in casualties and damage. According to media reports, as of 7 October, 3 people died in Chiang Mai city, Chiang Mai province, and more than 80 people have been evacuated in a dozen shelters due to floods and flash floods. In addition, train transportation was also suspended. In northern-central Thailand, 20 provinces are still flooded, and warnings for flooding have been issued in central provinces due to the release of the Chao Phraya Dam, which is under capacity. 
• Water is ‘canary in the coalmine’ of climate change: WMO (UN News) – The year 2023 marked the driest year in over three decades for rivers around the world, according to a new report coordinated by the UN’s World Meteorological Organization  
• WMO partnership to highlight damaging impact of climate change on winter sports (UN News) – The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) announced on Thursday they are partnering to raise awareness about climate change’s harmful effects on winter sports and tourism. 

Humanitarian 

• Lebanon: UNHCR chief issues urgent aid appeal to stem humanitarian catastrophe (UN News) – The UN High Commissioner for Refugees called on Sunday for greater international support to stem the “humanitarian catastrophe” now engulfing Lebanon following a massive escalation in Israeli airstrikes and a “limited” ground invasion there targeting Hezbollah militants. 
• Lebanon: Medical aid arrives in Beirut amid intensifying Israeli strikes (UN News) – As Lebanon suffered another night of heavy Israeli bombing, UN humanitarians and partners described how people desperate to flee the violence found the country’s main border crossing into Syria cut by a new dawn strike, forcing them to skirt “a huge crater” and rubble on foot, to reach the other side. 

Health 

• Rwanda will deploy Marburg vaccine under trial as death toll rises to 12 (AP News) – Rwandan health authorities will begin a vaccine study against the Marburg hemorrhagic fever, officials said Sunday, as the East African country tries to stop the spread of an outbreak that has killed 12 people. Rwanda, which received 700 doses of a vaccine under trial from the U.S.-based Sabin Vaccine Institute on Saturday, will target health workers and emergency responders as well as individuals who have been in contact with confirmed cases, according to the Health Ministry.  
• WHO approves first mpox diagnostic test for emergency use (UN News) – The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Friday that it has approved the first mpox diagnostic test for emergency use, which will boost diagnostic capacity in countries facing outbreaks of the disease. 

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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