November 2009

As ITN went to press, the State Department had travel warnings on 28 destinations: Lebanon, Côte d’Ivoire, Philippines, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mali, Eritrea, Central African Republic, Israel/West Bank/Gaza, Kenya, Afghanistan, Burundi, Nigeria, Haiti, Iran, Sri Lanka, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Chad, Nepal, Georgia, Sudan, Colombia, Algeria, Syria and Somalia.

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

Sydney, Australia, was covered in red dust as dried-out soils from the Outback fueled several huge dust storms in September. Following eight years of drought, heavy winds carried an estimated 75,000 tons of dust thousands of kilometers over parts of New South Wales and Queensland and as far as New Zealand.

Poor visibility caused delays at airports, disrupted ferry schedules and slowed city traffic. Children were advised to remain indoors.

With the failure of the March and April rains this year, the effects of the drought in Kenya are intensifying. Some areas have been in drought conditions for almost three years. In Mombasa and along the North Coast, hotels are scrambling to store water.

In the national parks the wildlife is suffering. More than 60 elephants and hundreds of other animals have died, some of thirst and some from lack of vegetation.

The Department of State urges travelers to Côte d’Ivoire to exercise caution when traveling outside Abidjan. Within Abidjan, crimes such as mugging, robbery, burglary and carjacking pose the highest risk for visitors, who should be careful when stopped in heavy traffic or at roadblocks and should avoid travel outside the city after dark.

Regarding the 2009-H1N1 (swine flu) pandemic, the Department of State alerts those traveling to China that government-imposed quarantine in a hospital or facility remains a possibility there.

From May to August 2009, there were reports of thousands of quarantined US citizens. Since September, such reports have been infrequent. 

All foreign travelers are obliged to follow local procedures regarding any public health-related measures. US officials are unable to influence the duration of stay in quarantine for affected travelers.

The State Department alerts travelers to safety concerns in China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

On Sept. 3, thousands of Chinese took to the streets of Urumqi to demand increased security after reports of alleged needle stabbings. News sources reported five people killed and 14 wounded in the protests. A heavy security presence is in place in Urumqi, Kashgar, Hotan and other major cities. 

The Rwandan government forces that entered the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in January at the invitation of the DRC government have withdrawn. Still, government soldiers, as well as rebel fighters, remain a concern.

These armed groups, located especially in North Kivu, South Kivu, Orientale, northern Katanga and Bas-Congo, are known to pillage, steal vehicles, kidnap, rape and kill. Travelers are frequently detained at roadblocks. Requests for bribes are common, and security forces have injured or killed people refusing to pay.

In September, heavy rains caused flash floods in northeast Turkey and Istanbul that killed at least 32 people. The floods in Istanbul did not cause serious damage in the tourist or business districts (Sultan­ahmet and Taksim), but damage to buildings and industry was estimated at over $100 million.

At press time, 16 West African nations had experienced torrential rains and flooding since June. The heaviest rains were in Burkina Faso (the worst in 90 years), Senegal, Ghana and Niger. More than 180 people died, with another 600,000 people affected. Roads, buildings and bridges were damaged, and crops and livestock were washed away.

Soon after an 8.0-magnitude earthquake occurred southwest of American Samoa on Sept. 30, a series of tsunami waves hit Samoa, American Samoa and the Tonga islands, killing at least 129, injuring hundreds more and destroying villages, tourist resorts and roads along the coast. Many people fled to safety when the tsunami warning was broadcast on the radio.

Fiji and the Cook Islands had large waves but no reported damage.