100616 – World Status Report

Avoid Nonessential Travel

U.S. Department of State.

• Afghanistan Travel Warning. The Department of State warns U.S. citizens against travel to Afghanistan because of continued instability and threats by terrorist organizations against U.S. citizens.
• Laos Travel Alert. The Department of State alerts U.S. citizens to the risks of travel in parts of Laos due to the unpredictable security situation.
• Democratic Republic of the Congo Travel Warning. The U.S. Department of State warns U.S. citizens of continued instability in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).  The potential for civil unrest is high in parts of Kinshasa and other major cities.  As a result of the deteriorating security situation, family members of U.S. government personnel have been ordered to leave the country beginning September 29.  Most official U.S. government travel to the DRC has been halted.  The U.S. Embassy is able to provide limited emergency services to U.S. citizens in the DRC.
• Tunisia Travel Warning. The U.S. Department of State warns U.S. citizens to avoid travel to southeastern Tunisia along the Libyan border as well as the mountainous areas in the country’s west, due to the threat of terrorism.
• Turkey Travel Warning. The U.S. Department of State continues to warn U.S. citizens of increased threats from terrorist groups throughout Turkey. U.S. citizens should avoid travel to southeast Turkey and carefully consider the risks of travel to and throughout the  country.

Hurricane alerts and warnings

• The State Department warns U.S. citizens of the approach of Hurricane Matthew and recommends U.S. citizens defer travel to Cuba, and Haiti.  
• The U.S Department of State continues as well to monitor the strength and impact of Hurricane Matthew in Jamaica and The Bahamas.
• The National Hurricane Center issues advisories for the Atlantic on Hurricane Matthew and TS Nicole.
• The United Nations report on the devastation caused by Hurricane Matthew in the Caribbean region.
• The Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System reports on Hurricane Matthew in the Bahamas, Cuba, United States and Haiti.
• FEMA Urges Residents to Know Their Evacuation Routes, Take Direction from State, Local, and Tribal Officials Ahead of Potential Landfall by Hurricane Matthew.
• FEMA encourages residents in potentially affected states to download the FEMA mobile app for disaster resources, weather alerts, and safety tips, in English and in Spanish. The app provides a customizable checklist of emergency supplies, maps of open shelters and recovery centers, disaster survival tips, and weather alerts from the National Weather Service. The app also enables users to receive push notifications reminding them to take important steps to prepare their homes and families for disasters.

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.