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 

• Rwanda-backed rebels advance into eastern Congo’s 2nd major city of Bukavu (AP News) – The M23 rebels entered the city’s Kazingu and Bagira zone and were advancing towards the center of the city of about 1.3 million people, according to Jean Samy, vice-president of the civil society in South Kivu. He reported gunfire in parts of the city. 
• DR Congo crisis: WFP condemns looting in Bukavu after M23 rebels take key city (UN News) – The UN World Food Program has condemned the looting of thousands of tons of relief supplies in the city of Bukavu in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), after Rwanda-backed M23 rebels swept in at the weekend, reportedly meeting little resistance. Looters made off with 7,000 tons of humanitarian food supplies, the UN agency said, adding that as violence spreads and access to food becomes increasingly difficult, “WFP stands ready to resume essential food aid to the most vulnerable as soon as it is safe to do so”. 
• Sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine paramount (UN News) – The United Nations encourages dialogue among all stakeholders and welcomes all genuine efforts and initiatives, with the full participation of Ukraine and the Russian Federation, that would alleviate the impact of the war on civilians and de-escalate the conflict. He also reiterated Secretary-General António Guterres’ position that “any peaceful settlement must respect the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine, in line with the UN Charter, international law and resolutions of the General Assembly.” 
• 24 killed in bus-truck collision in Zimbabwe (Africa News) – A head-on collision between a bus and a truck killed 24 people in Zimbabwe on Thursday, police said. Police spokesperson Paul Nyathi said the accident happened near Beitbridge, a town on the southern border with South Africa. The bus was travelling from the capital, Harare, to Beitbridge with 65 passengers on board. Nyathi said preliminary investigations indicated that the bus was trying to overtake another vehicle when it collided with the haulage truck. He said police are uncertain how many people were injured. 
• Russian drone struck Chernobyl reactor shell, but radiation levels normal (ABC News) – A Russian drone with a high-explosive warhead hit the protective confinement shell of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in the Kyiv region during the night, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday. Radiation levels have not increased, Zelenskyy and the U.N. atomic agency said. Russian officials made no immediate comment, and it was not possible to independently confirm Ukraine’s claim of Russian responsibility. 

Infrastructure 

• Argentina inflation hits five-year low in win for Milei (Reuters) – Argentina’s monthly inflation rate dropped to 2.2% in January, its lowest since mid-2020 after libertarian President Javier Milei took office just over a year ago ushering in austerity measures that have helped stabilize the embattled economy. The consumer price index rise came in just below analyst forecasts of 2.3% and down from 2.7% in December, a win for Milei as he looks to maintain positive momentum on the economy amid talks over a new International Monetary Fund deal. 

Environment 

• Ethiopia – Earthquake (ERCC) – As of 15 February, there are no casualties or damage following the event. More than 80,000 people have evacuated the affected areas since January and several infrastructures have been severely damaged. Additional evacuations are expected after this new episode. However, displaced populations have expressed reticence to relocate to the new sites identified by the Government. 
• Indonesia – Volcanic activity (ERCC) – The number of people affected by the eruption of the Lewotobi Laki-laki volcano, in East Flores regency, East Nusa Tenggara province, which occurred on 12 February and was characterized by an ash plume of approximately 1,500 m above the summit of the crater, has increased. As of 17 February, at least 5,230 people have been affected, and people who live in six villages in the disaster-prone area of East Flores regency have been evacuated. In addition, the villages of Dulipali, Padang Pasir, Nobo, Klatanlo, Hokeng Jaya, Boru, and Nawakote are being monitored for potential lahar risk. 
• Morocco’s livestock hit by consecutive droughts (Reuters) – Morocco’s cattle and sheep herds have decreased by 38% compared with the last census nine years ago due to consecutive droughts, agriculture minister Ahmed El Bouari said on Thursday. Six years of prolonged droughts have emptied Moroccan dams, caused mass job losses in farming and pushed the country to speed up its desalination plans. Rainfall was 53% lower this year compared with the average of the last 30 years, El Bouari told reporters. 

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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