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

• Top UN officials have called for halting escalating cycles of violence following Israeli-Palestinian clashes and airstrikes on Wednesday that left 11 dead and more than 100 injured (UN News). UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk raised serious concerns that scores of Palestinians, including a boy and three older men, were killed and hundreds injured in the Israeli operation in Nablus, and by airstrikes and rocket attacks between Israel and Palestinian armed groups in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday.
• Athletes wounded after blasts hit race in Cameroon: reports (Al Jazeera English). A separatist armed group claimed responsibility for the attack in Buea, in the English-speaking region, Reuters reports.

Demonstrations

• Sri Lanka Police Fires Tear Gas at Election Protest; 15 Injured (VOA). Police in Sri Lanka fired tear gas and water cannons Sunday to disperse protesters angry over a decision to postpone local elections after the government said it cannot finance them because of the country’s crippling economic crisis.
• Tens of thousands protest Mexico’s electoral law changes (AP News). Tens of thousands of people filled Mexico City’s vast main plaza Sunday to protest President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s electoral law changes they say threaten democracy and could mark a return to the past. ch

Natural Disasters

• As of 20 February 2023, UNHCR reported 41 156 deaths and 485 682 people being evacuated in Türkiye, and over 4 500 deaths and 8 300 injuries in North-West Syria (ECDC). There is the need to ensure continuity of care for people with underlying conditions, prevention and control of infectious disease outbreaks by establishing ad hoc surveillance systems, and management of mental health issues.
• On 24 February, Zamboanga del Sur Province in southern Philippines (ERCC), experienced heavy rain and strong winds that resulted in casualties and damage.
• Heavy rainfall has been affecting several parts of Indonesia over the past few days (ERCC), causing floods and resulting in widespread damage.

Health

• One fatality and one case with reportedly no significant symptoms of avian influenza A(H5N1) virus have been reported from Cambodia (ECDC). To date, no human-to-human transmission has been detected.
• There is an outbreak of diphtheria in several states in Nigeria (CDC). Vaccination against diphtheria is essential to protect against disease. If you are traveling to an affected area, you should be up to date with your diphtheria vaccines. Before travel, discuss the need for a booster dose with your healthcare professional.
• Since the last update on 17 January 2023, 65 979 suspected cholera cases including 943 fatalities have been reported worldwide (ECDC). Cholera cases continue to be reported in Western Africa, and South-East Asia over the past months. Cholera outbreaks have also been notified in the eastern and southern parts of Africa as well as in some parts of the middle east.
• A global surge of cholera cases has put one billion people in 43 countries at risk, the World Health Organization (WHO) cautioned this week (UN News). Right now, 22 countries across the world are fighting outbreaks of the acute diarrhoeal infection caused by eating or drinking contaminated food or water. Cholera cases climbed in 2022, following years of falling numbers of cases, and the trend is expected to continue into this year.

Migration

• Since the beginning of February 2023, more than 95,000 new refugees/asylum seekers fleeing hostilities in Laas Caanood in Somalia (ERCC) are estimated to have crossed into the Doolo and Warder zones in Ethiopia. More arrivals can be expected as active clashes continue.
• On 22 February, UNHCR informed about the increasing number of burkinabè seeking refuge in its southern neighbours: Togo, Ghana, Benin, and Côte d’Ivoire (ERCC). These four countries have recorded in total 23,000 arrivals from Burkina Faso, a figure likely to increase as some areas were not accessed yet. This adds to the 26,991 refugees and asylum-seekers from Burkina Faso registered in Mali.

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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