Travel Alerts and Warnings
Taking a trip this summer?
You might want to visit the U.S. Department of State website before you book your tickets.
On its passport site, the department tells travelers about possible international dangers using two types of notifications: alerts and warnings.
“Travel alerts” are for short-term events U.S. travelers should know about when planning to visit another country. The department cancels alerts when events have concluded. Alerts have stemmed from situations including election seasons, protests, disease outbreaks and elevated terrorist attack risks, according to the department.
In more dangerous situations, the department issues “travel warnings,” urging U.S. travelers to reconsider whether they should travel to a country at all. The department ends a warning when a situation of concern changes in a country. Some warnings have been in effect for years and have stemmed from unstable governments, civil war, violence and frequent terrorist attacks.
Here’s a look at the nine most recent notifications.
Europe
Type of notification: Alert
Date of issue: May 1, 2017
Expiration: Sept. 1, 2017
What the department says: “Extremists continue to focus on tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, and local government facilities as viable targets. In addition, hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, parks, high-profile events, educational institutions, airports, and other soft targets remain priority locations for possible attacks,” according to the department. Be extra vigilant during the summer travel season, which brings large crowds.
Pakistan
Type of notification: Warning
Date of issue: April 12, 2017
Expiration: None given. The notification replaces an Oct. 7, 2016 warning.
What the department says: In Pakistan, services for U.S. citizens are limited and security concerns are on-going.
The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad, the consulate general in Karachi and the consulate general in Lahore often have limited services because of “the security environment,” according to the department. The consulate general in Peshawar is also not providing services.
Terrorists may target U.S. citizens, as well as airports, hotels, schools, hospitals, places of worship and public parks, among other places.
Israel, West Bank and Gaza
Type of notification: Warning
Date of issue: April 11, 2017
Expiration: None given. The notification replaces an Aug. 23, 2016 warning.
What the department says: People should not travel to the Gaza Strip, and those in the area should leave as soon as possible.
Security in Israel and the West Bank “remains complex” and “can change quickly depending on the political environment, recent events, and particular geographic location,” according to the department.
Niger
Type of notification: Warning
Date of issue: April 11, 2017
Expiration: None given. The notification replaces a Jan. 27, 2016 warning.
What the department says: Avoid travel to Niger because of terrorist activity, kidnappings and high crime rates.
U.S. citizens should “avoid travel to Niger’s border regions, particularly the Malian border area, Diffa region and Lake Chad Basin area because of activity by extremist groups including al-Qa’eda in the Lands of the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), the self-proclaimed Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham — Islamic State West Africa, and Boko Haram,” according to the department.
The U.S. Embassy also has a limited ability to assist U.S. citizens in remote and rural areas because of security concerns and travel restrictions.
Best Countries Rank: Not ranked
Kenya
Type of notification: Alert
Date of issue: April 6, 2017
Expiration: Aug. 31, 2017
What the department says: General elections in Kenya are scheduled for Aug. 8, 2017 and could prompt rallies, demonstrations and protests that may escalate into violence.
“As with all large events, there is also the opportunity for criminal elements or terrorists to target participants and visitors. You should avoid areas of gatherings, protests, and demonstrations, and exercise caution if unexpectedly in the vicinity of any such events,” according to the department.
Nigeria
Type of notification: Warning
Date of issue: April 5, 2017
Expiration: None given. The notification replaces a Feb. 8, 2017 warning.
What the department says: Security in northeast Nigeria is “fluid and unpredictable.” U.S. citizens should avoid all travel to Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Kano, and Yobe states unless its essential.
The U.S. Mission is having a difficult providing services to U.S. citizens because of the “very poor transportation infrastructure,” according to the department. “All U.S. citizens should have evacuation plans that do not solely rely on U.S. government assistance. Due to the risk of kidnappings, robberies, and other armed attacks, U.S. citizens should also avoid all but essential travel to: Bayelsa, Delta, Jigawa, Kaduna, Katsina, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, and Zamfara states.”
Sudan
Type of notification: Warning
Date of issue: March 30, 2016
Expiration: None given. The notification replaces a Jan. 21, 2016 warning.
What the department says: Terrorists groups have said they intend to harm Westerners through suicide operations, bombings, shootings and kidnappings in Sudan. U.S. citizens should not travel to the Darfur region, Blue Nile, and Southern Kordofan states because of the risks of terrorism, armed conflict and violent crime.
The U.S. Embassy can only provide limited services to U.S. citizens outside of Khartoum.
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Type of notification: Warning
Date of issue: March 29, 2017
Expiration: None given. The notification replaces a Dec. 23, 2016 warning.
What the department says: Avoid all unnecessary travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The U.S. Embassy is having a difficult time providing services outside of Kinshasa because of security limitations and the country’s “very poor transportation infrastructure.”
“Armed groups, bandits, and some elements of the Congolese armed forces operate in the provinces of North and South Kivu, Bas-Uele, Haut-Uele, Ituri, Tanganyika, Haut-Lomami, and the Kasai region,” according to the department. “These groups have been known to kill, rape, kidnap, pillage, and carry out military or paramilitary operations in which civilians may be indiscriminately targeted.”
Saudi Arabia
Type of notification: Warning
Date of issue: March 29, 2017
Expiration: None given. The notification replaces a July 27, 2016 warning.
What the department says: U.S. citizens should consider threats from terrorist groups and the violence that has spilled into Saudi Arabia from Yemen.
“Terrorist groups, including ISIS and its affiliates, have targeted both Saudi and Western government interests, mosques and significant religious sites (both Sunni and Shia), and places frequented by U.S. citizens and other Westerners,” the department says.
More information
Trying to plan a trip? Check out the best countries for solo travel and the best countries for adventure.
A full list of travel warnings and alerts can be found here.
More from U.S. News
U.S. Issues Travel Alert for Europe, Citing Threat of Terrorist Attacks
U.S. State Department Warns Travelers Of Terror Risk in Europe
What You Need to Know About Travel Warnings and Alerts
9 Places the U.S. Government Warns Not to Travel Right Now originally appeared on usnews.com
