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 – Airstrikes continue to cause civilian casualties (ERCC) – Air strikes have continued against civilians across the country since the earthquake. Since 2 May, local media have reported around 58 airstrikes on civilian targets in opposition-controlled areas across Rakhine, Chin, Karen, Shan, Karenni and Mon states and Sagaing and Mandalay regions, killing at least 86 people and injuring over 200 others. 
• Israel intercepts two missiles launched from Yemen (ARAB News) – Houthi Military Spokesperson Yahya Saree said the group launched a ballistic missile toward Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport and two drones toward the Tel Aviv area 
• Spanish tourists robbed by armed ‘river pirates’ in Peruvian Amazon (The Guardian) – A tourist says four people holding pistols and a machine gun boarded the boat and forced passengers to drain their bank accounts 
• Two Israeli embassy staffers shot dead in downtown Washington (Reuters) – Two Israeli embassy staffers, committed to Israel-Palestinian dialogue and about to get engaged, were killed by a lone gunman in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday night and a suspect who chanted pro-Palestine slogans was in custody, officials said. The two were shot and killed as they left an event at the Capital Jewish Museum, about 1.3 miles (2 km) from the White House. 
• El Salvador’s Anti-Gang Crackdown Now Has Political Opponents in Its Crosshairs (InSight Crime) – Authorities in El Salvador have arrested a prominent human rights defender amid growing concerns over the government’s repressive anti-crime tactics, suggesting policies once used to attack organized crime are being repurposed to target political opponents. 

Demonstrations 

• Dozens injured in pension protest outside Argentina Congress (Reuters) -Dozens of people were injured during a protest outside Argentina’s Congress on Wednesday where activists and retired Argentines demanded higher pensions, according to Reuters witnesses. 
• EU eyes action over Hungary’s planned Russia-style law (DW) – Tens of thousands of Hungarians took to the streets over the weekend after the Hungarian government tabled new legislation to monitor foreign funding for NGOs and media outlets or anyone deemed a threat to what it sees as Hungarian sovereign interest. 

Infrastructure 

• South Sudan on edge as Sudan’s war threatens vital oil industry (Al Jazeera) – South Sudan relies on oil for more than 90 percent of its government revenues, and the country depends entirely on Sudan to export the precious resource. Sudan’s army says it may be forced to shut down facilities used to export oil from South Sudan as a result of the war. 

Environment 

• Ghana – Floods (ERCC) – As at 21 May, media reports indicated that four people died and approximately 3,000 individuals had been displaced. The floods also swept away vehicles and rendered roads impassable. 
• Ivory Coast – Landslide (ERCC) – As of 22 May, 12 people died and seven have been injured in the suburb of Attécoubé in north-western Abidjan city. In addition, three houses have been destroyed. Search and rescue operations are still ongoing. 
• Australia – Floods (ERCC) – As of 22 May, media reports confirm two fatalities, with three people missing, and over 500 individuals rescued. Rescue operations are ongoing, with 14 evacuation centres established across the state to provide support. The floods have also caused power outages, and the town of Cundletown, Mid North Coast, has been completely isolated by floodwaters. 

Health 

• England to begin vaccination program to prevent gonorrhea (CIDRAP) – Starting in early August, eligible patients, including gay and bisexual men who have a recent history of multiple sexual partners or a sexually transmitted infection (STI), will be able to receive an existing vaccine for meningococcal B disease (4CMenB) at local authority-commissioned sexual health clinics to prevent gonorrhea. 
• Risk of getting flu by touching contaminated items likely low (CIDRAP) – An experimental evaluation of the risk of influenza transmission from contaminated objects finds that viable virus was rarely transferred to fingertips from tainted floors, tables, or door levers, even when the viral loads far surpassed those occurring in real life. 

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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