January 2010

As ITN went to press, the State Department had travel warnings on 29 destinations: Chad, Mali, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Algeria, Colombia, Guinea, Lebanon, Côte d’Ivoire, Philippines, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Central African Republic, Israel/West Bank/Gaza, Kenya, Afghanistan, Burundi, Nigeria, Haiti, Iran, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Georgia, Sudan, Syria and Somalia.

For details, call the State Department at 202/647-5225 or visit http://
travel.state.gov/travel/warnings.html.

On May 19, 2009, after more than 25 years of conflict, the Sri Lankan government defeated the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization. While no LTTE incidents have occurred since, armed checkpoints remain. In the north are many Internally Displaced Persons camps which the government is working to empty.

The Department of State points out that political violence remains a problem in Nepal. Protestors have used violence, including forcibly closing businesses, damaging vehicles, throwing rocks and burning tires to block traffic. Avoid areas where crowds are forming, avoid road travel and maintain a low profile. Curfews can be announced with little notice. 

Armed groups continue to engage in extortion, abuse and threats of violence, particularly in rural areas and in the Terai, along the southern border with India. Clashes continue among political rivals.

The Department of State reported that in the last few months of 2009, Al Qaeda released videos threatening to conduct terrorist attacks against German interests. While these threats initially mentioned the federal elections in September, Al Qaeda continues to threaten Germany.

In recent years, security in Colombia has improved significantly, but in recent months there has been an increase in violent crime in many of the major cities, the Department of State reports. The incidence of kidnapping in Colombia has diminished significantly from its peak at the beginning of this decade; nevertheless, terrorist groups and criminal organizations continue to hold civilians for ransom or as political bargaining chips.

The State Department warns of the risks of travel to Algeria. Terrorist attacks, including bombings, false roadblocks, kidnappings, ambushes and assassinations, occur regularly, particularly in the Kabylie region of the country.

The group that claimed credit for the Dec. 11, 2007, suicide car-bomb attacks in Algiers has pledged more attacks against foreign targets. Avoid overland travel and stay only in hotels where adequate security is provided. 

The Department of State recommends avoiding all travel to eastern Chad and the Chad/Central African Republic border area due to recently increased levels of violent crime (including robbery and carjacking at gunpoint, kidnapping and murder); the continuing risk of clashes between Chadian government and rebel forces, and political tension between Chad and Sudan.

The Department of State recommends against all travel to Niger at this time. On Nov. 14, heavily armed individuals attempted to kidnap US embassy employees in Tahoua. 

In addition, a State of Alert is in effect for the region of Agadez, including the cities of Agadez, Arlit and Iferouane. Government of Niger permission is required for travel in the area, and anyone may be held for questioning, without cause. 

Armed groups operate throughout the northern and western Niger border regions. Conflict zones in northern Niger are strewn with land mines.

In November, a French national was kidnapped from his hotel in Menaka in northeastern Mali.

The United Kingdom and the French foreign ministry have urged “extra vigilance” when traveling outside of the capital, Bamako. The US Department of State recommends against all travel in the north, including the areas of Timbuktu, Essakane, Kidal and Gao.

A North African branch of Al-Qaeda is blamed for four kidnappings, two murders of hostages and two attacks on embassies in 2009.

In the Red Sea port of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, flash floods caused by unusually heavy rains killed over 100 people on Nov. 25. Most of the victims died in vehicles as cars, bridges and roads were swept away by what witnesses called a “wall of water.”