September 2013 Travel Warnings

travel-warningThe September 2013 travel warnings are a listing of any warnings that have been posted by the US Department of State in the month of August, warning travelers who plan to visit those countries. Remember to exercise extra care if you are visiting these countries, and check with your travel insurance provider to make sure you still have coverage in place – sometimes coverage can be excluded to countries that are under a travel warning.

Countries listed through the month of August 2013 include:

Algeria – August 23, 2013

The Department of State continues to warn US citizens of the risk of traveling to Algeria due to the current security situation and the continuing threat posed by terrorism. The Department of State urges US citizens who travel to Algeria to carefully evaluate the risks posed to their safety. There is a high threat of terrorism and kidnappings in Algeria, and although the major cities are heavily policed, attacks could still potentially take place.

Afghanistan – August 23, 2013

US citizens are warned against travel to Afghanistan, as the security threat to all US citizens in Afghanistan remains critical. No province in Afghanistan should be considered immune from violence, and the potential exists throughout the country for hostile acts, both targeted and random, against US and other Western nationals at this time. There is an ongoing and significant risk of kidnapping and assassination of US citizens and Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) employees throughout the country.

Egypt – August 15, 2013

The Department of State warns US citizens to defer travel to Egypt and US citizens living in Egypt to depart due to the continuing political and social unrest. On August 14, the Government of Egypt declared a State of Emergency that includes a curfew from 7 pm to 6 am in select governates, including Cairo and Alexandria. The US Embassy encourages US citizens who choose to remain in Egypt to comply with local regulations and follow local media for updates regarding your location.

Haiti – August 13, 2013

The Department of State issued a Travel Warning informing US citizens traveling to or living in Haiti about the security situation in Haiti regarding the crime level, lack of adequate infrastructure (particularly in medical facilities), seasonal severe inclement weather, and limited police protection. The Department of State urges US citizens to exercise caution when visiting Haiti. Although hundreds of thousands of US citizens safely visit Haiti each year, the poor state of Haiti’s emergency response network should be considered when planning travel.

El Salvador – August 9, 2013

The Department of State continued to warn US citizens that crime and violence levels in El Salvador remain critically high. Tens of thousands of US citizens safely visit El Salvador each year for study, tourism, business, and volunteer work, but crime and violence are serious problems throughout the country.

Pakistan – August 9, 2013

The Department of State warns US citizens to defer all non-essential travel to Pakistan. On August 8, the Department of State ordered the departure of non-emergency US government personnel from the US Consulate General in Lahore, Pakistan. This is due to the presence of several foreign and indigenous terrorist groups posing a potential threat to US citizens in Pakistan.

Yemen – August 6, 2013

The US Department of State warns US citizens of the high security threat level in Yemen due to terrorist activities and civil unrest. The Department urges US citizens to defer travel to Yemen and those US citizens currently living in Yemen to depart immediately. On August 6, 2013, the Department of State ordered the departure of non-emergency US government personnel from Yemen due to the continued potential for terrorist attack.

While traveling, please keep these August 2013 travel warnings in mind. Travelers are also advised to enroll through the U.S. Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to stay up to date on travel security information.

Posted by Jennifer Frankel

Jennifer is the International Director at International Student Insurance. Jennifer is a graduate of the University of Florida where she holds a Masters in International Business and a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration. She has lived and worked abroad in Mexico, Chile, Costa Rica and England, and traveled extensively in South America, Europe and Asia.

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