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Haiti
Travel
Warning
On February 9, 2010, the U.S.
Department of State issued the following Travel Warning :
The Department of State warns
U.S. citizens of the situation in Haiti in the aftermath of a
powerful earthquake, measuring 7.0 magnitude, that struck Haiti near
Port-au-Prince on January 12. The Department of State has ordered
the departure of all non-emergency U.S. government personnel from
Haiti.
U.S. citizens are strongly
urged to avoid travel to Haiti. The January 12 earthquake caused
significant damage to key infrastructure, and access to basic
services is extremely limited. Additional aftershocks remain a
possibility. All forms of communication within Haiti are limited.
The country is experiencing a severe shortage of food, water,
transportation, and adequate shelter. All commercial airline
carriers have suspended their operations until further notice.
Medical facilities are operating beyond maximum capacity, and the
lack of adequate sanitation poses serious health risks. Despite
good intentions, travelers may increase the burden on a system
already struggling to support those in need on the ground. In
addition, the Embassy's ability to provide emergency consular
services is limited.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
For Travelers in an Earthquake Area:
Please follow instruction on
FEMA's web page about "What
to do After an Earthquake"
The most important things are to listen to the
radio and to only place phone calls in the event of an emergency,
since call volumes are very high during these times.
For Family Members: The
U.S. State Department
Operations Center is
advising Americans seeking information about family members in Haiti
to call 1-888-407-4747. Due to heavy volume, some callers may
receive a recording. "Our embassy is still in the early stages of
contacting American citizens through our Warden Network," the U.S.
State Department said in a statement. "Communications are very
difficult within Haiti at this time."
You can also
follow the U.S. State Department's latest Tweets for up-to-date
information:
http://twitter.com/dipnote
Live: Haiti earthquake - latest updatesJan. 21, 2010
... Haiti and has placed 12000 more on alert for possible
deployment. In addition, members of the US Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention will travel ...
U.S. starts aid
airdrops into Haiti
January19, 2010
The U.S. military begins airdrops of food and water into Haiti, as
aid efforts gather pace a week after the devastating earthquake.Some 14,000 ready-to-eat meals and 15,000 litres of water
were dropped north-east of the capital, Port-au-Prince, the U.S.
said.
Beware of bogus online ‘help’ for Haiti
Americas - Haiti
(1/14/2010):
The urge to
help — and to give money — is powerful following a devastating
event like Haiti's earthquake, and one of the easiest ways to do
it is online. It's also one of the easiest ways to get scammed
if you're not sure what you're doing or who you're dealing with.
For
Information on How
to Protect Yourself, Your Family, Your
Employees, and Your Trips Abroad,
Contact our specialists today.
info@worldwidemedicalplans.com 877-211-3654 or
559-294-0316
The U.S. Department
of State issued the following Travel Alert on January 13, 2010:
The
Department of State alerts U.S. citizens to the situation in
Haiti and urges them to avoid travel to Haiti in the aftermath
of a powerful earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12. An
earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale struck near Port
Au Prince, followed by multiple aftershocks. The U.S. Embassy is
working to ascertain the extent of the damage and check on the
status of U.S. citizens around the island. This Travel Alert
expires on March 13, 2010.
There are reports of extensive damage, and communications remain
extremely difficult. Additional aftershocks remain a
possibility. A Tsunami Watch for Haiti and neighboring islands
issued by the Pacific Tsunami Alert Center has expired.
U.S. citizens
in Haiti should remain in shelter. If exposed when an aftershock
hits, take steps to avoid falling debris by getting to as open a
space as possible, away from walls, windows, buildings and other
structures. If indoors, take shelter under a heavy table or
desk, or in a doorway. Avoid damaged buildings, and obey all
instructions from local authorities. Do not use matches,
lighters, candles or other flame in case of disrupted gas
lines. Avoid downed power lines.
If possible,
U.S. citizens in Haiti should contact friends and relatives
outside of Haiti to inform them of their welfare.
The U.S.
Embassy in Port Au Prince has set up a task force at the Embassy
which is taking calls as conditions permit. The Embassy is
working to identify U.S. citizens in Haiti who need urgent
assistance and to identify sources of emergency help.
U.S.
citizens are urged to contact the Embassy via
email
to request
assistance. U.S. citizens in Haiti can call the Embassy’s
Consular Task Force at 509-2229-8942, 509-2229-8089,
509-2229-8322, or 509-2229-8672. The State Department has also
created a task force to monitor the emergency. People in the
U.S. or Canada with information or inquiries about U.S. citizens
in Haiti may reach the Haiti Task Force at 888-407-4747.
Outside of the U.S. and Canada, call 202-501-4444. For further
information and updates, please see the
State Department’s Consular Affairs website.
For
Information on How
to Protect Yourself, Your Family, Your
Employees, and Your Trips Abroad,
Contact our specialists today.
info@worldwidemedicalplans.com 877-211-3654 or
559-294-0316
On July 14, 2009, the U.S. Department
of State issued the following Travel Warning:
The State Department warns
U.S. citizens of the risks of travel to Haiti and urges that
they exercise a high degree of caution when traveling there.
While the overall security situation has improved, political
stability in Haiti remains fragile, and the potential for
politically-motivated violence persists. This Travel Warning
replaces the Travel Warning dated January 28, 2009, and is being
issued to provide updated information on country conditions, and
to alert Americans to ongoing security concerns and on
contacting and registering with the U.S. Embassy in Haiti.
Haiti, like most
Caribbean countries, can be affected by hurricanes and other
storms. Hurricane season runs from approximately June 1 -
November 30 each year. The lack of government infrastructure
and rescue services, combined with impassable roads and bridges,
have severely hindered rescue and relief efforts. During the
2008 hurricane season, four tropical storms struck Haiti,
causing torrential rains, extensive flooding and mudslides, and
hundreds of reported casualties. Most transport infrastructure
damaged by the 2008 storms has been repaired, although in many
cases repairs are temporary pending the construction of more
permanent structures. Haiti has few secondary roads that are in
good condition. Drivers traveling on Haiti's roads must be
aware that there will be frequent deviations, stoppages and
obstructions due to ongoing road construction and repairs. For
additional details concerning traffic safety and road
conditions, please see the Department of State's
Country Specific Information for Haiti.
There were violent
confrontations between opposing candidates' supporters and armed
attacks on polling stations in a handful of Haitian towns during
the April 19, 2009, Senate elections. There was less violence
in the second round of voting on June 21. International
monitors described the elections as generally well-organized and
orderly. The absence of an effective police force in many areas
of Haiti means that, when protests take place, there is
potential for looting, the erection of intermittent roadblocks
by armed protestors or by the police, and the possibility of
random crime, including kidnapping, carjacking, home invasion,
armed robbery and assault. Although the Haitian National Police
are more visible and are gradually contributing to improving
public security, especially in the metropolitan area of the
capital, Americans in Haiti should practice good personal
security, take commonsense precautions and avoid any event where
crowds may congregate. Even demonstrations intended to be
peaceful occasionally turn violent. Americans should closely
monitor news media and the U.S. Embassy's website at:
http://haiti.usembassy.gov/warden_information.html.
U.S. citizens traveling to
and residing in Haiti despite this warning are reminded that
there also is a chronic danger of violent crime, especially
kidnappings. Most kidnappings are criminal in nature, and the
kidnappers make no distinctions of nationality, race, gender, or
age. The incidence of kidnapping in Haiti has diminished from
its peak in 2006 when 60 Americans were reported kidnapped. As
of July 2009, one American had been reported kidnapped this
year. In 2008, 27 Americans were reported kidnapped. Most of
the Americans were abducted in Haiti's two largest cities,
Port-au-Prince and Cap Haitien. Some kidnap victims have been
killed, shot, sexually assaulted, or physically abused. While
the capacity and capabilities of the Haitian National Police
have improved since 2006, the presence of UN stabilization force
(MINUSTAH) peacekeeping troops and UN-formed police units remain
critical to maintaining an adequate level of security throughout
the country. The lack of civil protections in Haiti, as well as
the limited capability of local law enforcement to resolve
crime, further compounds the security threat to American
citizens.
While MINUSTAH remains fully
deployed and is assisting the government of Haiti in providing
security, travel is always hazardous within Port-au-Prince.
U.S. Embassy personnel are under an Embassy-imposed curfew and
must remain in their homes or in U.S. government facilities
during the curfew. Some areas are off-limits to Embassy staff
after dark, including downtown Port-au-Prince. The Embassy
restricts travel by its staff to some areas outside of
Port-au-Prince because of the prevailing road, weather, or
security conditions. This may constrain our ability to provide
emergency services to U.S. citizens outside Port-au-Prince.
Demonstrations and violence may occasionally limit Embassy
operations to emergency services, even within Port-au-Prince.
The Department of State
strongly advises U.S. citizens traveling to or residing in Haiti
to register either online at
https://travelregistration.state.gov
or with the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in
Port-au-Prince. The Consular Section can be reached at (509)
(2)229-8000 or e-mail address
acspap@state.gov. Travelers
should also consult the Department of State's latest
Country Specific Information for Haiti and the
Worldwide Caution at
http://travel.state.gov. American
citizens also may obtain up-to-date information on security
conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United
States.
For
Information on How
to Protect Yourself, Your Family, Your
Employees, and Your Trips Abroad,
Contact our specialists today.
info@worldwidemedicalplans.com 877-211-3654 or
559-294-0316
On January 28, 2009, the U.S.
Department of State issued the following Travel Warning
The State Department warns U.S.
citizens of the risks of travel to Haiti and recommends deferring
non-essential travel until further notice. This Travel Warning
replaces the Travel Warning dated April 30, 2008, and is being
issued to remind American citizens of the destructive impact of a
series of hurricanes in 2008, to provide updated information on
country conditions, and to alert Americans to ongoing security
concerns. Travelers are strongly advised to thoroughly consider the
risks before traveling to Haiti and to take adequate precautions to
ensure their safety if traveling to Haiti.
During the 2008 hurricane season,
four tropical storms struck Haiti, which resulted in torrential
rains, extensive flooding and mudslides, and hundreds of reported
casualties. The lack of governmental infrastructure and rescue
services combined with impassable roads and bridges severely
hindered rescue and relief efforts. In late August and September
2008, heavy rains and gale-force winds from hurricanes Fay, Gustav,
Hanna, and Ike pelted the country's coastline and interior causing
heavy flooding and mudslides. In the aftermath of the storms, eight
of the country's nine departments reported significant physical and
economic devastation. The storm damage came on the heels of the
civil unrest in April 2008. Conditions in Haiti may occasionally
limit Embassy assistance to American citizens to emergency services.
In
early April 2008, there were violent demonstrations, looting,
transportation disruptions, and as many as seven reported deaths in
Les Cayes and Port-au-Prince. Some American citizens were
temporarily stranded in isolated locations and could not safely
travel until calm was restored. The absence of an effective police
force in many areas of Haiti means that, when protests take place,
there is potential for looting, the erection of intermittent
roadblocks set by armed protestors or by the police, and an
increased possibility of random crime, including kidnapping,
carjacking, home invasion, armed robbery and assault. Americans in
Haiti should practice good personal security, take commonsense
precautions and avoid any event where crowds may congregate. Even
demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn violent. Americans
should closely monitor news media and the U.S. Embassy's website at:
http://haiti.usembassy.gov/warden_information.html.
U.S. citizens traveling to and
residing in Haiti despite this warning are reminded that there also
is a chronic danger of violent crime, especially kidnappings. Most
kidnappings are criminal in nature, and the kidnappers make no
distinctions of nationality, race, gender, or age. As of January
2009, 25 Americans were reported kidnapped in 2008. Most of the
Americans were abducted in Port-au-Prince. Some kidnap victims have
been killed, shot, sexually assaulted, or brutally abused. The lack
of civil protections in Haiti, as well as the limited capability of
local law enforcement to resolve kidnapping cases, further compounds
the element of danger surrounding this trend.
Travel is always hazardous within
Port-au-Prince. U.S. Embassy personnel are under an Embassy-imposed
curfew and must remain in their homes or in U.S. government
facilities during the curfew. Some areas are off-limits to Embassy
staff after dark, including downtown Port-au-Prince. The Embassy
restricts travel by its staff to some areas outside of
Port-au-Prince because of the prevailing road and security
conditions. This may constrain our ability to provide emergency
services to U.S. citizens outside of Port-au-Prince. Demonstrations
and violence may occasionally limit Embassy operations to emergency
services, even within Port-au-Prince. The UN stabilization force (MINUSTAH)
remains fully deployed and is assisting the government of Haiti in
providing security.
For
Information on How
to Protect Yourself, Your Family, Your
Employees, and Your Trips Abroad,
Contact our specialists today.
info@worldwidemedicalplans.com 877-211-3654 or
559-294-0316
This Travel Warning was issued on
April 30, 2008, to advise American citizens to defer non-essential
travel to Haiti until further notice. The civil unrest of early April
has subsided, but the political and economic conditions that
precipitated these events have not been entirely resolved. Conditions
may occasionally limit Embassy operations to emergency services. Americans are also reminded of ongoing security concerns in Haiti,
including frequent kidnappings of Americans for ransom. This supersedes
the Travel Warning for Haiti issued on April 11, 2008.
In early April 2008, there were
violent demonstrations, looting, transportation disruptions, and up to
seven reported deaths in Les Cayes and Port-au-Prince. Some American
citizens were temporarily stranded in isolated locations and could not
safely travel until calm was restored. Because political and economic
conditions precipitating the civil unrest have not been resolved,
American citizens should defer non-essential travel to Haiti.
For
Information on How
to Protect Yourself, Your Family, Your
Employees, and Your Trips Abroad,
Contact our specialists today. info@worldwidemedicalplans.com 877-211-3654 or
559-294-0316
The absence of an effective
police force in many areas of Haiti means that, should protests
reignite, there is potential for looting, the erection of intermittent
roadblocks set by armed protestors or by the police, and an increased
possibility of random crime, including kidnapping, carjacking, home
invasion, armed robbery and assault. Americans in Haiti should practice
good personal security, take commonsense precautions, and avoid any
event where crowds may congregate. Even demonstrations intended to be
peaceful can turn violent. Americans should closely monitor news media
and the U.S. Embassy’s website at:
http://haiti.usembassy.gov/warden_information.html.
U.S. citizens traveling to and
residing in Haiti are reminded that there is a chronic and growing
danger of kidnappings. Most kidnappings are criminal in nature, and the
kidnappers make no distinctions of nationality, race, gender or age; all
are vulnerable. Over 60 Americans were kidnapped in 2006, most in
Port-au-Prince. Many abductions are the result of carjacking or home
invasions. Past kidnappings have been marked by deaths, sexual assault,
shooting and physical assault of Americans. The lack of civil
protections in Haiti, as well as the limited capability of local law
enforcement to resolve kidnapping cases, further compounds the element
of danger surrounding this trend.
For
Information on How
to Protect Yourself, Your Family, Your
Employees, and Your Trips Abroad,
Contact our specialists today. info@worldwidemedicalplans.com 877-211-3654 or
559-294-0316
U.S. citizens are also reminded of
the potential for spontaneous protests and public demonstrations that
can occur at any time, day or night, and may result in violence. While
the nation-wide elections for municipal and other local positions on
December 3rd, 2006, were conducted peacefully, political violence can
occur at any time. American citizens are advised to take commonsense
precautions and avoid any event where crowds may congregate. Visitors
and residents must remain vigilant due to the absence of an effective
police force in much of Haiti; the potential for looting; the presence
of intermittent roadblocks set by armed gangs or by the police; and the
possibility of random violent crime, including carjacking and assault.
Travel can be hazardous within
Port-au-Prince. Some areas are off-limits to embassy staff, including
downtown Port-au-Prince after dark. U.S. Embassy personnel are under an
embassy-imposed curfew and must remain in their homes or in U.S.
government facilities during the curfew. The embassy has limited travel
by its staff outside of Port-au-Prince and therefore its ability to
provide emergency services to U.S. citizens outside of Port-au-Prince is
constrained. The UN stabilization force (MINUSTAH) remains fully
deployed and is assisting the government of Haiti in providing
security.
For
Information on How
to Protect Yourself, Your Family, Your
Employees, and Your Trips Abroad,
Contact our specialists today. info@worldwidemedicalplans.com 877-211-3654 or
559-294-0316
Due to the current security
situation in Haiti, the Department of State reminds U.S. citizens
traveling to or residing in Haiti to remain vigilant with regard to
their personal security; they are strongly advised to register either
online at
https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ or
with the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince. The
Consular Section can be reached at (509) 223-7011, fax number (509)
223-9665, or e-mail address
acspap@state.gov. Travelers should also
consult the Department of State's latest Consular Information Sheet for
Haiti and Worldwide Caution Public Announcement at
http://travel.state.gov.
American citizens may also obtain up-to-date information on security
conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States or
Canada or 1-202-501-4444 from overseas.
In Haiti citizens can call
509/222-0200, ext. 2000.
For
Information on How
to Protect Yourself, Your Family, Your
Employees, and Your Trips Abroad,
Contact our specialists today. info@worldwidemedicalplans.com 877-211-3654 or
559-294-0316
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July 22, 2010 MEXICO
CITY – Mexico is facing a sort of perfect storm of floods that breed
mosquitoes, prompting a big increase in the number of hemorrhagic dengue
cases, the country's top epidemiological official said Wednesday.
July 1, 2010
The Mexican government announced on Tuesday the
end of the health alert for the AH1N1 flu virus after 14 months in which
1,289 people died in this country and 72,000 cases were registered.
. .
Thailand's PM declares emergencyApril
7, 2010
Thailand's prime minister declares a state of
emergency in Bangkok amid growing anti-government protests.In a televised address, Mr Abhisit said the move - which gives
sweeping new powers to the security forces to tackle protesters - would help
restore order. It comes hours after thousands of "red-shirt" protesters
marched on parliament - forcing MPs to flee the building.
January 5, 2010
BEIJING: The Chinese capital was in the grip of
its coldest weather in 20 years Tuesday after snow storms caused chaos,
while South Korea sent out an army of civil servants and soldiers to clear
clogged roads. China's national weather centre said the mercury dipped
Tuesday to minus 15.6 degrees Celsius (four Fahrenheit) - the lowest in more
than two decades, after Beijing was hit by its heaviest snowfall in 60 years
at the weekend.
UK Did Not Pass Plane Bomber Intel To the U.S.
January5, 2010
Gordon Brown's spokesman says there is "no suggestion" the UK passed
intelligence to the US that they did not act on, regarding the alleged
Detroit plane bomber.
It follows
reports that the White House accused the Prime Minister's
spokesman of making a "mistake" when he appeared, on Monday, to confirm the
UK told the US that
Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab had links to extremists over a year
ago.
October 22, 2009
Thailand has mounted one of its biggest
security operations in recent history with more than 36,000 military and
police to prevent anti-government demonstrators from overrunning a
summit of Asian leaders, an official spokesman said Thursday.
June3, 2009 East Asia / Pacific - Australia
Australia raised the H1N1 flu alert level in the worst
hit state of Victoria on Wednesday and warned more areas would follow as
the national total topped 500.
March
3, 2009 Americas - Mexico
More than 800 federal and local police have
been assigned to improve security in and around Mexico City's
international airport after a series of armed robberies against
travelers who exchanged money there, authorities announced Monday.
4 Indonesians die of bird flu; toll climbs to 119
March
3, 2009 East Asia / Pacific -
Indonesia Four Indonesians have died of
bird flu, bringing the death toll in the country hardest hit by the
disease over the past several years to 119, an official said Tuesday.
February 26, 2009
PHOENIX - The U.S. State Department and
universities around the country are warning college students headed for
Mexico for some spring-break partying of a surge in drug-related murder and
mayhem south of the border.
February
13, 2009
A Colgan Air-operated Continental Connection flight from Newark, N.J., to
Buffalo, N.Y., went down about six miles from its destination airport
Wednesday night, killing all 49 aboard and at least one person on the
ground. An FAA spokeswoman said there was no distress call before the
Bombardier Q400 dropped off the radar. Colgan Air is a subsidiary of
Pinnacle Airlines. Continental Airlines Chairman and CEO Larry Kellner said,
"Continental extends its deepest sympathy to the family members and loved
ones of those involved in this accident."
Bloomberg (2/13)
February
6, 2009
The H5N1 strain of bird flu has been reported in more localities across
Vietnam, raising fears of a possible epidemic, official and media
reports said Friday.
Is China Covering up a New Bird Flu Epidemic?February
3, 2009
Certainly there seems to be very strong
evidence it is. There have already been eight reported cases of humans
contracting the potential deadly H5N1 virus, from which
five people have
died this year. And despite the fact that Hong Kong officials have been
finding dead birds infected with the virus washing up onto its shores in
recent days from the mainland, China has not made any official statement
concerning an outbreak among birds.
February 2, 2009 Thailandnews.net -- seeking political
asylum claiming they face persecution at home, because they fought alongside
U.S. forces during the Vietnam War. "Today we will send 190 Hmong
back to. . .
Japan rocked by major earthquake
July 16, 2007 An earthquake has struck central Japan, killing at least seven
people, flattening buildings and triggering a fire at a nuclear power plant.
Hundreds of people were injured when the 6.8-magnitude tremor struck the
Niigata area.
Feb.
26, 2007 Tokyo, Japan:In a move aimed at further
thwarting terrorist attacks, passengers on all international flights will be
prohibited from bringing aboard liquids in containers larger than 100
milliliters starting Thursday
South / Central Asia - Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan Earthquake PreparednessFeb.
13, 2007 Bishkek,Kyrgyzstan:
The
U.S. Embassy in Kyrgyzstan would like to remind American Citizens that
Kyrgyzstan is located in a seismically-active zone.
Registration Rules Stir Up Confusion
Feb. 5, 2007 Moscow, Russia:
According to a new
law that came into effect Jan. 15, foreigners are now required to hand over
their registration papers to migration officials -- via their employer or
other sponsor -- every time they leave the country and re-register upon
subsequent entry into the country.
Large swathes of greater Jakarta ground to a halt yesterday
after the heaviest rain in at least five years left many areas of the
Indonesian capital several metres underwater.
BA
running normal flight schedule
Europe - United Kingdom British Airways is running flights as
normal from Heathrow and Gatwick after averting a strike by cabin crew.
Thai airport hit by runway cracks1/29/07 Bangkok -
Thailand's transport ministry is to recommend some domestic flights be
transferred from Bangkok's new airport to the decommissioned old one.
Islamabad Marriott
Hotel Attack Pakistan -
It was reported that on January 26, 2007, at
approximately 2:37 p.m. local time, a bomb exploded at the back area
of the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad, Pakistan.
Nestle dairy plant in Colombia destroyed
Americas - Colombia
A pickup truck carrying 660 pounds of
explosives destroyed a dairy plant owned by
Swiss food giant Nestle SA in southern Colombia,
an attack police attributed Thursday to leftist
rebels
East Asia / Pacific -
Philippines
Philippine troops closed in Thursday on another
veteran of the Abu Sayyaf extremist group, a day
after announcing the death of a senior leader
wanted in the beheading of a California tourist.
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