International Education > Archive > Category: World Status Report

110618 – World Status Report

November 6, 2018

When traveling on behalf of UT Dallas, set up your institutional safety net and prepare for an emergency as a standard step of all your travels.  Find more information in the Traveler Best Practices webpage.

The risk information in this report is retrieved from U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization, and other professional sources as listed in the post. It provides general guidance for UT Dallas travelers.

Please note the revision date (mmddyy) of this report, printed on the title of the post, and go to the direct sources listed for the most up-to-date information.  The information in this report may change without prior notice.

Avoid Nonessential Travel

Conflict and Terrorism

  • Nigeria – UN. Deadly attacks occurred in and around a refugees camp, a Government-run facility a few kilometres from Borno state capital Maiduguri, and on communities close to the village of Dalori, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, OCHA, said on Friday.
  • Guinea – UN. A team of Guinean peacekeepers deployed to the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali, (MINUSMA) is playing a key role in removing explosives from areas in which the mission is operating.
  • Ukraine – UN. After a lull in fighting in Ukraine over the summer, the last few weeks have seen a sharp rise in civilian deaths, more than half of which are due to landmines and explosive remnants of war, the United Nations top political official said on Tuesday.

Natural Disaster

  • Indonesia – Government of Canada. On July 29 and August 5, 2018, strong earthquakes struck the North East area of the island of Lombok, causing deaths, injuries and disruptions to essential services such as power, water and transportation. Avoid travel to affected areas in northern Lombok. Exercise caution around damaged structures in the Gili Islands, which were also affected but recovered rapidly. Monitor local media for developments and follow the instructions of local authorities.

Take Enhanced Precautions

Demonstrations

  • Fiji – Government of Canada. General elections are due to take place on date November 14, 2018. Demonstrations could occur before, during and after the elections. Avoid areas where demonstrations and large gatherings are taking place. Follow the instructions of local authorities and monitor local media for the latest information.
  • Afghanistan – Government of Canada. Parliamentary elections took place in late October 2018. There is a heightened risk of demonstrations and attacks following the elections. Remain vigilant. Avoid demonstrations and large gatherings and follow the advice of local authorities.
  • Sri Lanka – Government of Canada. On October 26, 2018, the president of Sri Lanka moved to dismiss the prime minister, which may lead to a period of political instability. Demonstrations could occur. Exercise vigilance and avoid all demonstrations and large political gatherings. Monitor local media for the latest information.
  • Sri Lanka – GOV.UK. On 26 October 2018 the President of Sri Lanka sought to dismiss the Prime Minister, leading to a period of political instability. There have been political demonstrations in Colombo, which are likely to continue and may happen at short notice. You should exercise vigilance and avoid all demonstrations or large political gatherings. Monitor this travel advice for further updates.
  • Nigeria – GOV.UK – Unions in Nigeria have called for a national general strike from midnight on 5 November in support of a minimum wage. It is unclear how much support this strike will have, but it is likely to cause delays at domestic and international airports and possibly elsewhere. Monitor local media and check the viability of any travel before setting out on a journey. You should also exercise caution and avoid crowds or demonstrations.
  • Pakistan – Government of Canada. On October 31, 2018, the Pakistani Supreme Court announced its verdict on a high profile case. Large-scale demonstrations and civil unrest are taking place across the country. There is a risk of sectarian violence. Anti-Western sentiments may also increase the threat to foreigners, especially Westerners, as well as to western interests. Disruptions to traffic and public transportation may occur and may make movements difficult. Avoid areas where demonstrations and large gatherings are taking place. Avoid areas where Westerners congregate, such as places of worship (including churches) and markets. Maintain a high level of personal security awareness. Monitor local media for the latest information. Follow the instructions of local authorities.

Crime and Social Unrest

  • Ethiopia – U.S. Department of State.  Level 2: Exercise increased caution when traveling in Ethiopia due to sporadic civil unrest and communications disruptions. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.
  • Nigeria – GOV.UK – Violence can erupt quickly and without warning in Nigeria. You should follow local news reports and be alert to developments that might trigger civil unrest.

Natural Disasters

  • Italy – Government of Canada. Severe weather conditions in late October and early November 2018 have caused flooding and other weather related incidents, such as fallen trees, in many parts of Italy, including the cities of Rome and Venice. Several streets in the affected regions are impassable. The rain may cause flash flooding and landslides and could severely disrupt essential services. If you reside in or are travelling to the affected areas monitor local news and weather reports. Follow the instructions of local authorities and contact your travel agent or tour operator to determine if the situation will disrupt travel arrangements.
  • Philippines, Northern Mariana Islands – GDACS. From 10/21/2018 to 11/2/2018, a Tropical Depression (maximum wind speed of 287 km/h) YUTU-18 was active in NWPacific.

Health

  • Saudi Arabia – WHO. From 17 September through 15 October 2018, the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) National Focal Point of Saudi Arabia reported eight additional cases of MERS-CoV infection, including three deaths. Of the eight cases reported, three were hospital contacts from one hospital in Dammam and two were household contacts in Riyadh.
  • West Nile Virus – ECDC. In the past five days between 26 and 30 October 2018, EU Member States reported 3 human West Nile virus (WNV) infections in Hungary (2) and Bulgaria (1). EU neighboring countries reported 12 cases, all in Serbia.
  • Poliomyelitis – ECDC. Since the CDTR published on 5 October 2018, four new cases of wild poliovirus type 1 have been reported in Afghanistan (2) and Pakistan (2). Additionally, 16 new cases of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV) have been reported globally: cVDPV type 1 (cVDPV1) in Papua New Guinea (4), cVDPV type 2 (cVDPV2) in Nigeria (6) and Niger (4) and cVDPV type 3 (cVDPV3) in Somalia (2).

Law and Culture

  • United Arab Emirates – Government of Canada. Some prescription and over-the-counter medications that are legally available in United States, such as codeine, are classified as controlled substances in the UAE. It’s illegal to bring them into the country, even in small quantities, without prior permission from the UAE Ministry of Health. If you attempt to bring banned pharmaceuticals into the UAE without prior approval and required documentation, Emirati authorities may confiscate them. You may also be subject to heavy fines and imprisonment. Even if you do not bring such medications with you to the UAE, however blood and urine tests detect traces of a prohibited substance in your system, local authorities may prosecute you. Consult the Ministry of Health and Prevention’s list of controlled medicines to determine if you must obtain a permission to import any required medication. You may get a permission by creating a profile online and completing an electronic form.
  • Jordan – GOV.UK – Petra is one of the world’s most treasured UNESCO Heritage Sites and it attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors annually. It has strict opening and closing hours which all visitors should adhere to. Being inside Petra outside of these hours is not permitted and could lead to arrest and prosecution. Ticket prices are displayed and anyone needing clarification should ask the tourist office staff before agreeing any additional charges.

Ebola News

  • Democratic Republic of the Congo – WHO. This outbreak of EVD is affecting north-eastern provinces of the country, which border Uganda, Rwanda and South Sudan. Potential risk factors for transmission of EVD at the national and regional levels include: transportation links between the affected areas, the rest of the country, and neighbouring countries; the internal displacement of populations; and the displacement of Congolese refugees to neighbouring countries. The country is concurrently experiencing other epidemics (e.g. cholera, vaccine-derived poliomyelitis, malaria), and a long-term humanitarian crisis. Additionally, the security situation in North Kivu and Ituri at times limits the implementation of response activities. WHO’s risk assessment for the outbreak is currently very high at the national and regional levels; the global risk level remains low. WHO continues to advise against any restriction of travel to, and trade with, the Democratic Republic of the Congo based on currently available information.
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo – ECDC. Over the past week, the Ministry of Health of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has reported 25 additional cases in Beni (19) and Butembo (6).
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo – UN. The United Nations Security Council has voiced “serious concern” over the impact of deteriorating security situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on the response to the deadly Ebola outbreak and fears that the virus could spread further into the country and the wider region.

Please note the revision date (mmddyy) of this report, printed on the title of the post, and go to the direct sources listed for the most up-to-date information.  The information in this report may change without prior notice.