Fatal Dam Burst in Nakuru County Amidst Widespread Flooding - Kenya
North and Central America
In August, Southwest Airlines will halt operations at four airports in the USA and Mexico due to first-quarter losses. Starting on 4 August, the airline will discontinue flights to Bellingham International Airport in Washington, Syracuse Hancock International Airport in New York, Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Texas, and Cozumel International Airport in Mexico. Check with your travel agent or the airline to determine if your travel plans are affected. If impacted by cancellations, know your compensation rights. Reschedule your travel plans or use alternate airlines/modes of transport to minimize inconvenience
United Airlines is about to resume its non-stop service between Newark and Tel Aviv on 3 May, marking the second relaunch after a period of tension following the recent Iranian drone and missile attack on Israel. In March, United became the first US airline to resume flights to Israel after a terror attack in October. With flights operating at full capacity in both directions, the airline is considering adding a second daily flight to meet the strong demand, particularly after the Passover holiday.
South America?
On 21 April, authorities in Aruba extended the suspension of flight operations to and from Venezuela until 20 July. The operations have been suspended since 2020 due to security reasons. Check with the airport or your travel agent or airline to determine if your travel plans are affected. Follow the advice of the local authorities.
On 27 April, a curfew was imposed in the communes of Ca?ete, Contulmo, and Tirúa following the murder of three police officers at kilometre 25 of Route P72S, Ca?ete. On Sunday, the curfew was modified to prohibit pedestrian and vehicular traffic between 22:00 and 06:00 hours (local time). Investigations are underway. Monitor the local media for updates on restrictions that may impact your travel plans. Follow the curfew regulations to avoid attracting undue suspicion. Follow the advice of the local authorities.
Europe
On 25 April, severe flight disruptions were reported at airports across the UK after a border force outage led to issues with e-gates used to scan and authorize passports. The UK Border Force manages passport control at the airports. Lengthy queues were reported at Gatwick, Heathrow, Luton, Stansted, Edinburgh, and several other airports. The issue was later resolved, but severe residual disruption was reported. Travellers planning to travel through airports in the UK in the near future are advised to prepare for potential delays due to the recent border force outage.
On 23 April, heavy rainfall led to severe disruptions to traffic in the Helsinki region. Trams across the light-rail network were halted due to the freezing of the overhead wires. Bus services experienced widespread delays across routes, with certain routes operating only partly due to difficult road conditions. Trains also reported disruptions. Difficult weather conditions also resulted in the cancellation of over 60 flights that were scheduled to depart from or arrive at Helsinki Airport.
Several flights were also delayed by many hours. Avoid non-essential travel until weather conditions improve. Travellers should be prepared for rapidly deteriorating travel conditions. Exercise increased caution when walking or driving in affected areas. Drive slowly on slippery roads. Watch for tail lights ahead and maintain a safe following distance.
Ukrainian authorities suspended consular services for military-age male citizens until at least 18 May, criticizing them for seeking assistance without contributing to the war. This means that military-aged Ukrainian men living abroad will be unable to renew expiring passports, obtain new ones, or receive official documents such as marriage certificates. The suspension will remain in effect until a new mobilization law enters force on 18 May, requiring all military-age men to report to draft offices to update their papers, remotely or in person, within 60 days. Men abroad will need those papers to receive consular services.
Travellers in need of embassy services should contact the office and monitor the situation for updates. Many countries advise their citizens to avoid all travel to Ukraine at this time due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. If in Ukraine, avoid travelling to the war-affected areas, as there may be water shortages, power outages, a lack of hospitals and emergency services, and damage to infrastructure such as roads, transportation, and communication systems. Follow the advice of the local authorities.
Middle East and Asia Pacific
Since 19 April, locals of Tavush Province's border towns have been staging protests against the border demarcation agreement with Azerbaijan and the handover of four border villages, including Kirants, Noyemberyan, Voskepar, and Baghanis. On 23 April, protesters blocked the Yerevan-Sevan highway and other major roads in the province. The protesters also clashed with the local police. Unrest over this issue is likely to continue.
Demonstrations may be held in major cities and capitals. To minimize safety risks, avoid areas of large public gatherings or protests. Even events intended to be peaceful can escalate unexpectedly and quickly become violent. There may be increased police or security personnel. Traffic restrictions or road closures are possible.
Effective 23 April, Bhutan withdrew its mandatory travel insurance requirement for tourists. This requirement was introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic. For additional information, travellers are advised to contact their travel agents or Bhutan's embassy before making airline and accommodation bookings. For international travel, it is always advised to purchase travel insurance to avoid inconveniences caused by unexpected emergencies.
On 22 April, the Russian Embassy in Turkey advised its citizens to avoid flying with Turkish Airlines if travelling to LATAM countries and transiting through Istanbul. The advisory was issued following an increase in denials of boarding for Russian citizens and heightened security protocols by the airline. Arrive at the airport well in advance. Expect and prepare for extensive security checks and baggage screening. Long queues and increased wait times are likely at airports. Ensure all appropriate documentation is in place in order to avoid further delays. Follow any other advice from airport authorities. Follow all advice from Russian authorities. Consider using alternate airlines.
Since 20 April, heavy rains across southern and eastern Kyrgyzstan have led to severe flooding and landslides. Emergencies were declared in the Osh, Jalal-Abad, and Talas regions. At least two people were killed in rain- and flood-related accidents. Over 1,000 buildings remain flooded. Emergency evacuations remain ongoing. Some rivers in the affected regions are flowing at dangerous levels, increasing the risk of more flooding. Be cautious and consult local meteorological reports wherever available.
Avoid non-essential travel during adverse weather conditions. Essential services, including transportation, may be disrupted. Expect and prepare for a limited supply of power and water. Do not drive across flooded roads. If driving, it is advised to slow down, increase the following distance, and use low-beam headlights. Avoid contact with flood waters due to the risk of contamination.
The Hanoi City Centre for Disease Control has noted an increase in children infected with Hand-Foot-Mouth Disease during the past week. A total of 287 new cases were reported, bringing the total for this year (2024) to 2,289 infected people. The risk of exposure will vary from place to place. Small children are most susceptible to infection with this virus. Travellers who are travelling with small children can decrease the risk of exposure to the hand-foot-mouth disease virus by washing their hands frequently and maintaining careful personal hygiene.
Africa
On 28 April, at least 35 fatalities were reported in the Mai Mahui area of Nakuru County following a dam burst. Additionally, several individuals have been reported missing. The incident occurred amidst heavy rainfall and widespread flooding reported across the country last week. As a result, major roads and highways have been shut down to vehicular traffic, prompting travel advisories for airlines, ferry operators, and boat operators. Poor visibility is anticipated during adverse weather conditions. Travellers should be cautious and consult local meteorological and emergency reports.
The Ministry of Health has declared an epidemic of mpox. A total of 19 cases have been diagnosed in five different departments, including Brazzaville. No deaths have been reported so far. Travellers are at low risk of exposure since monkeypox is a relatively rare disease caused by a virus that is closely related to the smallpox virus. Infection with monkeypox is not as serious as smallpox, but human deaths have occurred. The virus is transmitted by the bite of infected rodents or from person to person through respiratory or direct contact with an infected person, e.g., living in the same household, touching bodily fluid from blisters, sleeping in the same bed, etc.
Sexual transmission may occur, mostly among men who have sex with men. The symptoms of monkeypox include fever, headache, muscle aches, backaches, swollen lymph nodes, and a fluid-filled rash, starting on the face. Eventually, the rash will become crusty, and the scabs will fall off. The illness usually lasts for 2 to 4 weeks. Preventive measures include washing hands often and avoiding contact with wild animals and products made from wild animals. Furthermore, international travellers should also avoid contact with people who are sick.
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6 个月Sitata Team- thank you! Once again, you share insight and information that is not necessarily readily available in the US news. You keep us "in the know"!