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 

• Somali forces end deadly 24-hour hotel siege (BBC) – Somali security forces have ended a deadly 24-hour siege by Islamist fighters who stormed a popular hotel in the central city of Beledweyne, authorities said. The attack by al-Shabab began with a car bomb exploding, followed by gunmen entering the hotel, leading to intense clashes with security forces. 
• Pakistan train hijack: Suicide bombers complicate rescue operation (Reuters) – Pakistani security forces stormed a train on Wednesday that had been hijacked by separatist militants, killing all 33 attackers and ending a day-long standoff involving hundreds of hostages, the military said. 
• Israeli fire kills four Palestinians in Gaza, amid new ceasefire talks (Reuters) – An Israeli air strike killed four Palestinians in Gaza on Tuesday, the territory’s civil emergency service said, as Arab mediators and the United States tried to hammer out differences between Hamas and Israel over a January 19 ceasefire agreement. 

Environment 

• Ecuador – Severe weather, floods and landslides (ERCC) – Widespread heavy rain continues to affect most of Ecuador leading to severe flooding, landslides, increased fatalities, and mounting destruction. As of 12 March, at least 18 fatalities, 3 missing, 91 people injured, 242 people evacuated, and a total of 91,503 people affected. In addition, 25,704 houses were damaged, including 114 that have been destroyed. 
• Mozambique, Malawi, Madagascar – Tropical cyclone JUDE (ERCC) – Preliminary reports by the National Institute for Disaster Management (INGD) in Mozambique reported 6 deaths, 20 injured, 9,525 affected people, 908 houses totally and 991 houses partially destroyed, as well as 9 health centres and 59 schools affected. These numbers are expected to increase as the assessments are ongoing. As of 11 March, one fatality, one injured person, more than 3,600 displaced people in nine shelters, and a total of 4,100 affected people across Madagascar. Some 1,300 houses have been flooded, with 37 destroyed and 37 schoools affected.  
• Malaysia – Floods (ERCC) – Heavy rainfall has been affecting the state of Sabah, northern Borneo Island, Malaysia since 8 March, causing floods that have resulted in displacement and damage of buildings and infrastructure. As of 10 March, a total of 4,555 people sheltering in 14 relief centres. The districts impacted, including Tenom, Beaufort, Membakut, and Sook, have seen a total of 37 villages affected. 
• Argentina – Floods (ERCC) – As of 10 March, at least 16 people died, two are missing, 800 people were injured, 2,725 people have been displaced and sheltered in more than 15 evacuation centres, and a total of 169,000 people were affected in the Bahía Blanca city area. 
• The weather in some of the world’s most densely populated cities is swinging from droughts to floods and back again (Reuters) as rising temperatures play havoc with the global water cycle, a study commissioned by the charity WaterAid showed. 
•  

Health 

• WHO injects fresh support into DR Congo vaccination drive (UN News) – The UN World Health Organization (WHO) has stepped up efforts to improve vaccination coverage in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) by providing vital logistical support, including boats and motorcycles to reach remote communities along the Congo River. The initiative aims to curb the spread of preventable diseases such as polio, measles and yellow fever which remain a persistent threat in hard-to-reach areas. 
• Congo faces setback in mpox response after Rwanda-backed rebels advance in the east (ABC news). Hospitals across eastern Congo that were once at the forefront of the country’s response to the mpox outbreak are facing a setback in detecting the disease and offering treatment following the advance of Rwanda-backed rebels in the region. 
• MSF reports 150 new cholera cases in Haiti (VOA) – Medecins Sans Frontiere says cholera is on the rise in Haiti. The nongovernmental health organization, also known as Doctors Without Borders, says 150 Haitians were treated for cholera between Feb. 15 and March 6. The Cite Soleil neighborhood reported 19 infections. MSF expressed concern about the trend as Haitians have less access to clean water at a time when gang violence victims are living on the streets in unsanitary conditions.  
• Measles cases expected to grow in coming months, European health authorities (EURO News) – Romania is experiencing the largest measles outbreak, but all countries have reported cases. Measles cases in Europe have gone up more than tenfold over the past year, with health authorities urging people to ensure they are vaccinated against the highly contagious disease. From early 2024 to early 2025, more than 32,000 measles cases were reported in the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway – a “considerable” increase from 2023, when fewer than 2,400 cases were reported 

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. 

---

Tags

---

Related Posts

---