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 

• Roadside bomb blast kills 26 in Nigeria’s restive northeast (AL Jazeera) – At least 26 people have been killed as a truck hit an improvised explosive device in Nigeria’s restive northeast. The blast on Monday killed men, women and children in Borno State, near the border with Cameroon, according to the military and residents. 
• Restaurant fire kills 22 in northeast China’s Liaoning (Reuters) – A restaurant fire in northeastern China killed 22 people on Tuesday, the official news agency Xinhua said, in the latest in a series of similar deadly incidents around the country. Xinhua did not identify the cause of the fire but said President Xi Jinping called it “a deeply sobering lesson” and urged local officials to quickly treat the injured, determine what triggered the blaze and hold those responsible to account. 
• More than a dozen killed in sectarian clashes near Syrian capital (Reuters) – More than a dozen people were killed in a predominantly Druze town near the Syrian capital on Tuesday in clashes sparked by a purported recording of a Druze man cursing the Prophet Mohammad which angered Sunni gunmen, rescuers and security sources said. 
• Major drug bust sees 1.65 million ecstasy tablets seized in Algeria (ARAB News) – Algerian authorities said Monday they had seized 1.65 million ecstasy pills and arrested nine suspects involved in an international “criminal network operating between Morocco and France.” 
• Gangs attack another town in Haiti’s central region, killing an 11-year-old child and three others (CNN) – Gangs have attacked another town in Haiti’s central region, killing at least four people, including an 11-year-old child, a human rights activist told The Associated Press on Monday. 

Infrastructure 

• Power outages across Spain and Portugal affected millions. How to prepare for a major blackout (AP) – An unprecedented blackout across Spain and Portugal upended the lives of millions across the Iberian Peninsula, a stark reminder of modern society’s reliance on electricity, and how quickly life can descend into chaos when the grid goes down. 

Environment 

• South Korea – Wildfire (ERCC) – As of 29 April, more than 5,600 evacuated people, of whom over 2,200 evacuated to a number of shelters across the area of Daegu city. In addition, media also report some closed roads across the affected area. 
• Algeria – Landslide (ERCC) – A landslide occurred in the area of the city of Oran, north-western Algeria on 26 April, resulting in casualties and damage. As of 29 April, indicate four fatalities and 13 injured people due to a landslide event that occurred in the evening (UTC) of 26 April in the area of the coastal city of Oran. In addition, media also report five destroyed houses across the affected area. 

Health 

• Measles cases in Europe, the Americas skyrocket (CIDRAP) – About 87% of the European cases were reported in Romania, which had the highest notification rate, followed by Austria, Belgium and Ireland. In the Americas, the six countries reporting measles case this year are Argentina, Belize, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and the United States, with the United States reporting the largest outbreak, at 900 cases. 

Humanitarian 

• World court opens hearings on Israel’s aid obligations to Palestinians (WSJ).  The International Court of Justice (ICJ) heard arguments yesterday in a case over whether Israel is required to permit aid into Gaza under international law and the UN charter after a nearly two-month blockade. The UN’s World Food Program said last week it had run out of food to distribute in Gaza. 

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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