In the past two weeks, the United States has issued, revised, or reissued multiple travel advisories, including warnings for popular European destinations like Italy and the United Kingdom, now classified under the “exercise increased caution” or “Level 2″ alert category, with “Level 4″ being the highest level of warning.
The three newest countries with updated travel advisories are Denmark, Lesotho, and Haiti, so travelers should be forewarned.
On Sept. 18, Haiti was classified as a “Level 4″ country, the highest security level due to life-threatening risks, such as terrorism, ongoing rebellions, war, and bombings. Citizens are strongly advised not to visit. Some reasons for a Level 4 travel advisory include:
- War
- Bombings
- Nuclear terrorism threats
- Ongoing rebellions
- Kidnapping or hostage taking
On Sept. 17, Denmark and Lesotho were classified under the “Level 2″ category, which means travelers should exercise increased caution when visiting due to a higher risk of disorder or attacks in certain areas.
For “Level 2,” travelers should be aware of their surroundings and recognize heightened risks to safety and security. The State Department provides additional advice for travelers in these areas within the Travel Advisory.
Additional countries classified as “Level 2″ this week, with advisories for travelers to exercise increased caution, include:
- Sri Lanka, due to civil unrest and the threat of terrorism.
- Jordan, due to the threat of terrorism. The alert warns that some parts of the country, including the area surrounding the Jordan-Syria border, should be avoided due to armed conflict.
- Bahrain, due to the threat of terrorism.
- Saudi Arabia, due to the threat of missile and drone attacks from Yemen and terrorism.
(AP Photo/Eileen Putman)AP
If traveling to Denmark, travelers are advised of the following:
- Be aware of your surroundings when traveling to tourist locations and crowded public venues.
- Follow the instructions of local authorities.
- Monitor local media for breaking events and adjust your plans based on new information.
- Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
- Follow the Department of State on Facebook and X/Twitter.
- Follow the U.S. Embassy in Copenhagen on Facebook and X/Twitter.
- Review the Country Security Report for Denmark.
- Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist.
Meanwhile, travelers should take note of “Level 3″ countries before embarking on travel, which means reconsidering nonessential travel due to serious risks to safety and security.
Reasons for a Level 3 advisory can include terrorism threats, natural disasters, civil unrest, widespread violent crime, or infectious diseases.
Countries classified as “Level 3″ are:
- Guyana, due to crime. “Violent crime, including murder and armed robbery, is common, especially at night,” the alert reads. “Local police often lack the resources to respond effectively to serious criminal incidents.”
- Bangladesh, due to civil unrest, crime, and terrorism.
- Pakistan, due to the threat of terrorism.
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