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

• Myanmar – Fighting (ERCC). At 04:00 on 27 October, an alliance of ethnic armed organisations launched coordinated attacks on various Myanmar miliary outposts in northern Shan State. Fighting is ongoing around Kyaukme, Laukkai, Lashio and Kunlong districts, and near the towns of Muse and Chinshwehaw. Between 4,100 and 10,000 people have been displaced. There are civilian casualties and reports of heavy shelling.  
• Syria has experienced its worst violence surge in over three years, resulting in civilian casualties, injuries, and infrastructure damage.  (UN News). The UN Special Envoy for Syria on Monday warned that civilians there are facing the “terrifying” prospect of a potential wider escalation given the uptick in violence in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory. “Spillover into Syria is not just a risk; it has already begun,” he said, citing the recent airstrikes, attributed to Israel, that have hit Aleppo and Damascus airports several times, temporarily halting the UN’s Humanitarian Air Service operations from there.
• DRC faces risk of violence and crisis as elections loom: ICG Report (Africa News). The Democratic Republic of Congo faces the risk of descending into violence and national crisis as it approaches the December elections, according to a report by the International Crisis Group (ICG).
• Suspected shooter holes up in post office after injuring two people in Japan hospital (Yahoo News). Two people – a doctor in his 40s and a patient in his 60s – suffered injuries during shooting at Saitama Prefecture. Japan is known as one of the safest countries globally, primarily owing to its rigorous gun-control regulations. Shooting-related incidents are rare in the country.
• Israeli forces battle Hamas around Gaza City, as military says 800,000 have fled south (AP). Israeli troops battled Hamas militants and attacked underground compounds on Tuesday with a focus on northern Gaza, from which an estimated 800,000 Palestinians have fled south despite continued Israeli bombardment across the besieged enclave.

Demonstrations

• Two killed in anti-government protest in Bangladesh (Reuters on MSN.com). Two people were killed and dozens injured in clashes in Bangladesh on Tuesday between anti-government protesters and police on the first day of a three-day protest to push for the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
• The opposition Bangladesh National Party announced today that they launched a three-day blockade (Nikkei) of railways, roads, and waterways, and called for the prime minister’s government to resign. The blockade follows violent demonstrations this past weekend that were shut down by the police. 

Environment

• Mexico – Tropical cyclone OTIS, update (ERCC). The amount of casualties continues to increase following the passage of Hurricane OTIS over the coastal area of Acapulco City (Central Guerrero State, southern Mexico). According to media reports, 48 people have died, including 43 in Acapulco and five near Coyuca de Benítez, while 47 others are still missing. 100 dead or missing in Mexico from hurricane, food and water worries persist (Reuters). The number of people dead and missing due to Hurricane Otis, a Category 5 storm which hammered the Mexican Pacific resort city of Acapulco last week, has risen to 100, the government of the southern state of Guerrero said on Monday.
• Somalia – Floods, update (ERCC). Moderate to heavy Deyr season rainfall (October to December) has hit several parts of Somalia, resulting in increasing humanitarian consequences.
• China’s smog-covered north on highest pollution alert as visibility drops (Reuters on MSN.com). Authorities issued their highest warnings for fog and haze on Tuesday as smog enveloped major cities in northern China, warning the public that visibility could drop to less than 50 metres (164 feet). Northern province Hebei launched an anti-pollution emergency response, listing traffic safety controls for when necessary including suspending flight takeoffs and landings, temporarily closing highways and suspending ferries, China’s meteorological bureau said in a notice.

Migration and Displacement

• Some 5,000 migrants set out on foot from Mexico’s southern border, tired of long waits for visas (AP News). About 5,000 migrants from Central America, Venezuela, Cuba and Haiti set out on foot from Mexico’s southern border Monday, walking north toward the U.S.
• The intensified conflict between rebels and government-aligned militias in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has led to (France24) one of the largest internal displacement and humanitarian crises in the world, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said. Since October 1, nearly two hundred thousand people have fled their homes in eastern Congo.

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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