Travel Update-Weekly Edition

State Dept Travel Warnings and Public announcements - For the full announcements or further detail on Travel Warnings and Public Announcements, please see  http://travel.state.gov/travel

China - The U.S. Department of State issued the following Travel Alert for China on May 30: "This Travel Alert updates U.S. citizens on the effects of the earthquake that struck China’s Sichuan province on May 12. American citizens should avoid the areas of Sichuan province most severely affected by the earthquake and be prepared for travel delays in other parts of the province. Areas outside of Sichuan province are not experiencing earthquake-related damage or delays. This supersedes the Travel Alert dated May 16, 2008, and expires on June 30, 2008. Cities and towns to the north and northwest of Sichuan's provincial capital, Chengdu, are the areas most seriously damaged by the earthquake. These include Wenchuan County near the earthquake's epicenter, approximately 55 miles northwest of Chengdu, Beichuan, Dujiangyan, Mianzhu, Mianyang, and Maoxian. Rescue and recovery operations in this area are ongoing; infrastructure has been damaged, and road, air and rail transportation disrupted. Aftershocks continue to occur, causing further damage and complicating the significant rescue and recovery efforts now under way. Other areas of Sichuan province, such as the large metropolitan area of Chengdu, suffered less damage, but continue to experience light aftershocks, as well as delays in rail and airline service. Areas outside of Sichuan are not experiencing earthquake-related travel delays."

 

Guinea - On June 2 the U.S. Embassy in Conakry released the following Warden Message: "This Warden Message is to inform American citizens that the situation in Guinea is returning to normal, and that the Embassy is lifting its earlier recommendation against traveling to or within Conakry.
However, the Embassy continues to remind American citizens that demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and possibly escalate into violence quickly. The Embassy, therefore, urges U.S. citizens to exercise caution in the vicinity of any protests, and to avoid crowds, political gatherings, and street demonstrations, even if they appear to be peaceful."

 

Macedonia - On June 3 the U.S. Embassy in Skopje issued a Warden Message, which reads in part as follows: "We wish to notify U.S. citizens that the Blace border crossing point on the Macedonia-Kosovo border has been closed to truck traffic since June 1. Three cargo trucks are leaking a potentially toxic substance in the area between the border check points. The exact content of the substance is unknown and it is unclear if there are health risks associated with it. Officials are examining the situation, and further testing of the substance will take place on the morning of June 4. There have been some protests on the Kosovo side of the border regarding the trucks, and there may be some disruption to traffic. We recommend that American citizens monitor local news sources and evaluate the available information before using the Blace border crossing."

 

Myanmar - The U.S. Department of State issued the following Travel Alert for Myanmar on June 3: "This Travel Alert updates American citizens on safety conditions within Burma. American citizens residing in or traveling to Burma should continue to defer nonessential travel to the Irrawaddy Delta region of the country. The Burmese government has restricted access to this area for all but authorized relief workers. The U.S. Embassy in Rangoon has ended the authorized departure of non-essential personnel and family members of mission staff. This Travel Alert replaces the Travel Warning issued on May 5, 2008, and expires on September 30, 2008. "The environment in Rangoon, Burma’s most populous city, and other areas outside of the Irrawaddy Delta has gradually improved. Electrical power and water supply have been restored in most areas and markets are now operating normally. "The harder-hit Irrawaddy Delta region is still without many basic necessities, and the risk of outbreaks of disease remains high. The United Nations, ASEAN, and others in the international community, including the United States, are providing international relief assistance to meet both immediate and long-term needs. The Burmese Government has restricted access to this area for people other than relief workers it has authorized. American citizens should defer nonessential travel to the Irrawaddy Delta region."

 

Zimbabwe - The U.S. Department of State issued the following Travel Alert for Zimbabwe on June 2: "This Travel Alert updates safety and security concerns in Zimbabwe, advises U.S. citizens to consider relocating if necessary to ensure their security during the upcoming election period, and continues to recommend deferral of all non-essential travel to Zimbabwe at this time. This supersedes the Travel Alert for Zimbabwe dated May 14, 2008 and expires on August 1, 2008. U.S. citizens should defer non-essential travel to Zimbabwe. U.S. citizens resident in Zimbabwe, particularly in rural areas, should carefully review their personal circumstances and consider moving to a more secure location in advance of, and immediately following, the June 27 runoff of the presidential elections between President Robert Mugabe and Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) candidate Morgan Tsvangirai. Since the March 29 general election, Zimbabwean security forces, including some military and police, as well as so-called war veterans, have created a climate of intimidation and fear across the country, particularly in rural areas and high-density suburbs. There have been numerous and widespread attacks on opposition supporters, renewed farm invasions, and arrests and beatings of election officials accused of vote tampering. There is a continued risk of arbitrary detention or arrest. Americans should be particularly cautious when using still, video or telephone cameras in any urban setting, or in the vicinity of any political activity, as this could be construed by Zimbabwean authorities as presenting oneself as an accredited journalist, a crime punishable by arrest, incarceration and/or deportation."

 

Hurricane Season - The U.S. Department of State issued the following Travel Alert for U.S. citizens during this years Hurricane Season: "This Travel Alert is being issued to alert U.S. citizens to the Hurricane Season in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, the Caribbean, and the Gulf of Mexico. The official Atlantic Hurricane Season runs from June through November. This Travel Alert expires November 30, 2008. National Weather Service officials at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predict a 65 percent chance that activity during the 2008 Atlantic Hurricane Season will be above normal this year, forecasting 12 to 16 named storms, with 6 to 9 becoming hurricanes. NOAA recommends that those in hurricane-prone regions begin preparations at this time for the upcoming season. After some storms, U.S. citizens have encountered often uncomfortable, and sometimes dangerous, conditions that have lasted for several days while they awaited transportation back to the United States. Many U.S. citizens traveling abroad in affected regions have been forced to delay their return to the United States due to infrastructure damage to airports and limited flight availability. Damage to roads can limit access to airports and land routes out of affected areas. Flights can be suspended and passengers face long delays before normal airport operations and flight schedules resume. There have also been instances of looting and sporadic violence after natural disasters. Security personnel may not be readily available to assist at all times. Should a situation require an evacuation from an overseas location, the State Department will work with commercial airlines to ensure the safest and most efficient repatriation of U.S. citizens possible. Commercial airlines are the Department’s primary source of transportation in an evacuation. Other means of transport are used only as a last resort. The Department of State will not provide no-cost transportation, but does have the authority to provide repatriation loans to those in financial need. U.S. citizens should always obtain travel insurance to cover unexpected expenses during an emergency. U.S. citizens living in or traveling to storm-prone regions overseas should prepare for hurricanes and tropical storms by organizing a kit containing a supply of bottled water, non-perishable food items, a battery-powered or hand crank radio, and vital documents (especially passport and identification) in a waterproof container. Emergency shelters often have access only to basic resources and limited medical and food supplies. U.S. citizens should monitor local radio, the National Weather Service at http://www.nhc.noaa.gov, and local media to stay aware of any weather developments in their area. Minor tropical storms can develop into hurricanes very quickly, limiting the time available for a safe evacuation. Travelers should apprise family and friends in the U.S. of their whereabouts, and keep in close contact with their tour operator, hotel staff, and local officials for evacuation instructions in the event of a weather emergency. Travelers should also protect their travel and identity documents against loss or damage, as the need to replace lost documentation could hamper or delay return to the United States. U.S. citizens are strongly encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the Department of State’s travel registration website at https://travelregistration.state.gov. By registering, American citizens can receive the Embassy’s most recent security and safety updates during their trip. Registration also ensures that U.S. citizens can be reached should an emergency arise either abroad or at home. While Consular Officers will do their utmost to assist Americans in a crisis, travelers should always be aware that local authorities bear primary responsibility for the welfare of people living or traveling in their jurisdictions.