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 

• Israel kills 23 people in north Gaza, orders evacuations in south (Reuters) – Medics said eight people had been killed in a series of airstrikes in Beit Lahiya while four others were killed elsewhere in Gaza City. An Israeli airstrike later killed two people and wounded others in Jabalia, the largest of Gaza’s eight historic refugee camps, in the coastal enclave’s north, medics said. 
• Syria escalation: Deadly attacks continue, healthcare and access compromised (UN News) – The ongoing escalation of violence in northwest Syria linked to the wider conflict in Gaza and Lebanon has left civilians dead and injured, hospitals “overwhelmed” with healthcare attacks on the rise, the UN warned on Tuesday. 
• Fighting resumes in eastern Congo (Reuters) – Fighting resumed in eastern Congo on Monday, again violating a ceasefire, the M23 rebel group and Congolese army said, casting doubt on whether the M23 group will cease its offensive after the withdrawal of Rwandan troops. The Tutsi-led M23 group has been waging a renewed insurgency in the Central African country’s east since 2022. Congo and the United Nations accuse neighbouring Rwanda of backing the group with its own troops and weapons. Rwanda denies this. 

Infrastructure 

• China bans export of key minerals to U.S. as trade frictions escalate (Reuters) – China has banned exports to the United States of items related to the minerals gallium, germanium and antimony that have potential military applications. A commerce ministry directive on dual-use items with both military and civilian applications cited national security concerns. The order, which takes immediate effect, also requires stricter review of end-usage for graphite items shipped to the U.S. 
• Fuel oil smuggling network rakes in $1 billion for Iran and its proxies (Reuters) – A sophisticated fuel oil smuggling network that some experts believe generates at least $1 billion a year for Iran and its proxies has flourished in Iraq since Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani took office in 2022, five sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters. 
• UK facing increased hostile activity in cyberspace (Reuters) – Britain’s cyber security chief warned on Tuesday of a rise in hostile activity in the country’s cyberspace, with the number of incidents handled by officials rising by 16% in 2024 compared to a year ago. “Hostile activity in UK cyberspace has increased in frequency, sophistication and intensity,” the National Cyber Security Centre’s Richard Horne will say in a speech later on Tuesday, according to a statement released by the government agency. 
• Finnish authorities probe damage to internet cable between Finland and Sweden (Euro News) – Finland’s Minister of Transport and Communications Lulu Ranne said on Tuesday that officials were looking into the matter along with digital infrastructure firm Global Connect. “We take the situation seriously,” the minister wrote on X. Global Connect said the fibre-optic cable was damaged in two separate places in southern Finland on Monday, affecting 6,000 private customers and 100 business clients. 

Environment 

• Sri Lanka – Severe weather, update (ERCC) – As of 3 December, 18 fatalities, 19 injured people, nearly 5,100 still evacuated people in 64 evacuation centres, and a total of approximately 468,750 affected people across the aforementioned provinces. In addition, DMC also reports 107 fully damaged houses and more than 2,600 partially damaged houses. 
• Malaysia, Thailand – Floods, update (ERCC) – As of 3 December, seven fatalities across Kelantan, and Terenggan states , Peninsular Malaysia, and Sarawak states, East Malaysia. The Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) also reports more than 144,050 displaced people across the affected area, where the worst affected is the Kelantan state with alone over 82,600 displaced people. In Thailand, media report as of the same date, around 20 unconfirmed fatalities, and a total of approximately 434,000 affected families in ten provinces across the country, where the most affected are the southern provinces. 
• Brazil – Severe weather (ERCC) – In Brazil, according to the same source, 25 people have been injured due to a wind-related incident that occurred in Arroio do Tigre municipality, in central Rio Grande do Sul state, and at least 800,000 people have been affected by power outages across the state. Several buildings have been destroyed also in Carazinho city, in the South region of Rio Grande do Sul. 

Health 

• Unknown disease kills 143 in southwest Congo (Reuters) – An unknown disease killed 143 people in Democratic Republic of the Congo’s southwestern province in November, local authorities told Reuters. Infected people had flu-like symptoms, including high fever and severe headaches, Remy Saki, deputy governor of Kwango province, and Apollinaire Yumba, provincial minister of health, said on Monday. A medical team has been sent to the Panzi health zone to collect samples and carry out an analysis in order to identify the disease. 
• New 68-case Salmonella outbreak linked to cucumbers from Mexico (CIDRAP) – Federal health officials have announced a Salmonella outbreak tied to cucumbers imported from Mexico that has sickened 68 people across 19 states. SunFed Produce, LLC, has issued a voluntary recall for the vegetables sold from October 12, 2024, to November 26, 2024. 

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. 

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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