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 

• Malawi president orders troops to withdraw from DR Congo (BBC) – Malawi’s President Lazarus Chakwera has ordered the military to begin preparing to withdraw from their peacekeeping mission in the volatile eastern Democratic of Congo. At least 20 peacekeepers, including 14 South Africans and three Malawians, were killed as the M23 rebels captured the key city of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, last week. 
• Ukraine receives F-16 jets from Netherlands (Reuters) – Ukraine’s Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said on Thursday the Netherlands had delivered U.S.-made F-16 fighters to Ukraine. The aircraft, along with French Mirage jets, “will soon begin carrying out combat missions, strengthening our defense”, Umerov said on Facebook. 
• Rwanda-backed rebels tell residents of a captured eastern Congolese city they are safe (AP News) – The Rwanda-backed rebels who captured a major city in eastern Congo sought to reassure its residents on Thursday, holding a rally at the city stadium and promising safety and stability in Goma under their administration as they try to shore up public support amid growing international pressure. 
• One injured in second shooting near Brussels metro station (EURO News) – Police responded to a second shooting in less than two days near the Clémenceau metro station in Brussels on Thursday. According to the Brussels Public Prosecutor’s Office, one person was injured in the incident and transferred to hospital. Prosecutor Julian Moinil told RTBF radio that the shooting took place overnight at around 3am CET, and that the perpetrator used a handgun. 
• New contingent of Kenyan police joins UN-backed mission to fight gangs in Haiti (Associated Press) – A fourth contingent of Kenyan police arrived Thursday in Haiti to help repel violent gangs as officials brushed off concerns over a halt in some U.S. funding to the U.N.-backed mission. 

Demonstrations 

• Slovak government teeters as more mass protests planned (DW) – Anti-government protests are expected to take place in over 50 towns and cities across Slovakia on Friday. 

Environment 

• Japan – Severe weather (ERCC) – Heavy snowfalls have been affecting north-western Japan since 6 February, resulting in disruptions and damage. As of 6 February, more than 370 schools have been closed across Japan, train services have been suspended and several flights have been cancelled, several roads have been closed. 
• Australia – Floods, update (ERCC) – Heavy rainfall has continued to affect the Queensland state, north-eastern Australia since 1 February, causing floods that have resulted in more casualties and widespread damage. As of 6 February, two fatalities in the area of Ingham town, Hinchinbrook shire, north-eastern Queensland. In addition, media also report approximately 1,000 evacuated people in a number of evacuation centers and an uncertain number of damaged houses across the affected area. 

Health 

• Ethiopia – Cholera outbreak (ERCC) – A resurgence of the cholera outbreak has been confirmed in Amhara region, affecting mostly West Gondar zone, with 122 cases and one death in Quara district, three cases and one death in Genda Wuha district. In Central Gondar, three cases and one death have been reported, while 33 cases were reported in Bahir Dar, the region’s capital city. The contamination source is the Bermel Georgis holy water, located in Quara district, which draws pilgrims from across the region and beyond, entailing a significant risk of further spreading the disease. 
• Armed conflict disrupts mpox response in DR Congo (CIDRAP) – Fighting has upended lab testing and sent mpox patients fleeing from treatment centers back into the community. 
• Ebola Sudan outbreak in Uganda grows to 7 cases (CIDRAP) – The World Health Organization (WHO) said there are now seven cases of Ebola Sudan in Uganda’s capital, Kampala, up from two just a couple days ago.  
• Argentina says it, too, plans to pull out of World Health Organization (CIDRAP) – Two weeks after US President Donald Trump took office and said the United States would be withdrawing for the World Health Organization (WHO), Argentina President Javier Milei said today his country, too, would be pulling out of the international organization.  

Humanitarian 

• Gaza: 10,000 aid trucks reached enclave since ceasefire began (UN News) – The humanitarian community’s plan to flood Gaza with lifesaving aid passed an important milestone on Thursday with the news that more than 10,000 relief lorries have entered the enclave since the ceasefire began on 19 January. 

Migration 

• Morocco foils 78,685 migrant attempts to reach Europe in 2024 (Reuters) – Morocco stopped 78,685 migrants from illegally crossing into European Union territory in 2024, up 4.6% from a year earlier, the Interior Ministry said on Thursday. The figures highlight “growing migratory pressure in an unstable regional environment”, the ministry said in response to questions emailed by Reuters. Among the migrants, 58% were from West Africa, 12% from North Africa where Morocco is located, and 9% from East and Central Africa, it said. 

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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