News Watch
Arabian Peninsula & Persian Gulf
The State Department warns that the security threat level in the Arabian Peninsula and Persian Gulf region remains high, with continued threats to the US Embassy in Sana’a, Yemen, where a terrorist attack on Sept. 17, 2008, killed several security personnel and innocent bystanders.
Bushfires in Victoria
Whipped by winds and aided by high temperatures and a long drought, ferocious bushfires ravaged more than 1,200 square miles of Victoria state in southeast Australia in early February. More than 210 people died, 900 homes were destroyed and over 7,000 people ended up in shelters.
Tibet briefly off limits
Anticipating possible demonstrations, China detained scores of locals, questioned thousands more and closed many regions of Tibet to tourism prior to March 10, 2009, the 50-year anniversary of the Tibetan uprising when the Dali Lama was forced to flee.
Air strike on Colombo
Tamil Tiger rebels used two light aircraft to bomb Sri Lanka’s capital city of Colombo on Feb. 20. They struck the main tax office, the central bank and air force headquarters, and 42 people were injured. The Sri Lankan Defense Department said one of the aircraft was destroyed.
Madagascar rift
The State department has alerted travelers of safety and security concerns in Madagascar due to demonstrations stemming from a political rift between supporters of the mayor of the capital city of Antananarivo and the government of Madagascar.
Flooding in Solomons
Heavy rainfall through December 2008 and January and February 2009 caused flooding in the Solomon Islands, particularly on Guadalcanal and Savo Island, where homes and bridges were destroyed. In Guadalcanal, nine people were reported dead and more than a dozen missing.
Current warnings for April 2009
As ITN went to press, the State Department had travel warnings on 28 destinations: Eritrea, Syria, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Philippines, Israel/West Bank/Gaza, Burundi, Sri Lanka, Côte d’Ivoire, Georgia, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Nepal, Pakistan, Somalia, Chad, Kenya, Yemen, Sud
Southern Philippines
The State Department warns travelers to the Philippines to exercise extreme caution in the islands of the Sulu Archipelago as well as in the central and western portions of the island of Mindanao (specifically, the provinces of North Cotabato, Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte).
Georgia risks
The Department of State warns travelers to Georgia not to go to the separatist regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia and to be aware of the potential for gunfire, violence and increased risk of crime in the region.
Bomb in Cairo bazaar
In Cairo, Egypt, a bomb exploded on Hussein Square near the Hussein mosque and adjacent to the Khan el-Kahlili bazaar, crowded with tourists and Egyptians, on Feb. 29. The 17-year-old girl who was killed and many of the more than 40 people who were injured were French students on a tour.
Burundi caution
The US Department of State warns of the risks of travel to Burundi.
Floods in Fiji
Torrential rain fell nonstop in Fiji for a week in early January in the most relentless storm to hit the islands in 100 years. With wide areas inundated, 11 people were killed, hundreds of homes and businesses were flooded, and thousands of tourists were trapped in hotels.
Assam, India, unrest
In Guwahti, India, another series of three bombs exploded on Jan. 1. Six people were killed and 50 were reported injured. The blasts took place just prior to a planned visit by the Indian Home Minister, P. Chidambaram.
Gaza conflict
After three weeks of intense fighting along the Gaza strip this January, Israel and Hamas agreed to a cease-fire. Israeli troops pulled back and allowed humanitarian aid into the region. However, attacks and counterattacks continue.
Nepal power cuts
Nepal has increased the length of time on the daily power cuts from 12 to 16 hours due to a lack of electricity. The cuts are likely to continue for the next five to six years.
Violence in Athens
Athens continues to suffer from riots and outbursts of street violence. The government estimates that over $1.3 billion of damage has been done in the city since early December.
Clashes in Côte d’Ivoire
The Department of State warns that Côte d’Ivoire continues to experience episodes of political unrest and violence since a failed coup attempt in 2002 evolved into an armed rebellion that split the country in two.
Kenya food crisis
The president of Kenya declared a national disaster in January and requested aid for the nearly 10 million people facing acute food shortages. The drought, limited planting due to disrupted farming after the post-election turmoil, almost total crop failure and reduced herds are the causes.
Current warnings for March 2009
As ITN went to press, the State Department had travel warnings on 28 destinations: Israel/West Bank/Gaza, Burundi, Sri Lanka, Cote d’Ivoire, Georgia, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Nepal, Pakistan, Eritrea, Somalia, Chad, Kenya, Yemen, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, Iran, Lebanon, Afghanis
Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and Rwanda battle Lords Resistance Army
The situation along the border regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and Rwanda has been deteriorating. The Lords Resistance Army (LRA) stepped up attacks on villages in the DRC, and, since December 2008, rapes, maiming and more than 400 deaths of villagers have been attributed to the rebel group.