News Watch
Palestine conflict
The tenuous cease-fire between Israel and Hamas in Palestine ended in December, with Hamas firing rockets into Israel and Israel responding late in the month with an intense aerial assault, resulting in hundreds of casualties in the Hamas-controlled area of Palestine.
India security
The Department of State reported that the November 2008 terrorist attack in Mumbai, India, killed 170 persons (including six Americans and 16 other non-Indians) and injured 300. It adds that public places frequented by Westerners may be targeted in the future.
Terrorism in Sri Lanka
The Department of State warns against travel to the Northern Province and most of the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka.
Pirates in Gulf of Aden
About 21,000 ships a year cross the Gulf of Aden, where there has been a sharp increase in pirate attacks on cargo ships plus four attempts on passenger ships recently.
Mali alert
Due to recent armed conflicts, kidnappings, armed robberies and the continued presence of Al-Qaeda in the Land of the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), the Department of State recommends avoiding all travel to northern Mali.
Riots in Athens
In Athens, Greece, a teenage boy was shot by a policeman on Dec. 6. Demonstrators threw rocks and petrol bombs at the police, who responded with tear gas, and riots spread that lasted for weeks, involving thousands of people in more than 10 cities.
Coup in Guinea
After the death of the president of Guinea, General Lansana Conte, on Dec. 23, a military junta of young army officers staged a successful bloodless coup. They promised to fight corruption and graft, improve living conditions and in two years hold free elections.
Zimbabwe, cholera +…
The political instability and economic crisis in Zimbabwe have resulted in small-scale civil demonstrations and riots by military personnel and a general deterioration of government services and infrastructure, including the near collapse of the public health system.
Current warnings for February 2009
As ITN went to press, the State Department had travel warnings on 28 destinations: Sri Lanka, Côte d’Ivoire, Georgia, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Nepal, Pakistan, Eritrea, Somalia, Chad, Kenya, Yemen, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, Israel/West Bank/Gaza, Iran, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Alge
North Sinai tensions
Those traveling in Egypt’s northern Sinai, north of the Cairo-Nekhl-Taba road, should be aware of tensions there between Bedouins and Egyptian security forces.
Marshall Islands flooded
A state of emergency was declared in the Marshall Islands, in the Western Pacific, after they were swamped by huge waves three times in two weeks in December. Hundreds of islanders’ homes were destroyed or flooded and plantations were ruined. The capital, Majuro, rises only a meter above sea level.
Thailand unrest abates
In Thailand, on Dec. 2 the court banned the prime minister from politics for five years, over election fraud, and disbanded his governing party. On Dec. 3 the protesters who had blocked traffic at Bangkok’s airports since Nov. 25 left.
Kenya caution
The US government continues to receive indications of potential terrorist threats aimed at American, Western and Kenyan interests in Kenya.
Thailand tourism disrupted
At press time, protesters had disrupted air traffic at Thailand’s two major airports since Nov. 25 in order to block the return of Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat from an international summit in Peru. An estimated 300,000 tourists were waiting to exit the country.
Nepal considerations
Despite the recent smooth transition of government in Nepal, some unrest remains. One subgroup continues to engage in extortion, abuse and threats of violence, particularly in rural areas. Clashes continue among other political rivals.
Kenya highway bandits
In Kenya, gangsters have been setting up roadblocks on highways, especially at night, and robbing passengers in matatus, shared taxi-vans that sometimes hold up to 14 people. The victims usually are not injured if they do not resist.
Clashes in Chad
The Department of State continues to warn against all travel to eastern Chad and the Chad/Central African Republic border area due to insecurity caused by banditry and clashes between government and rebel forces.
Pakistan perils
The Department of State on Nov. 21 warned US citizens against nonessential travel to Pakistan. Terrorists and their sympathizers have demonstrated their willingness and capability to attack targets where Westerners are known to congregate or visit.