CENTRAL AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN

Haiti (Security threat level – 5): On 22 August 2022, large-scale demonstrations calling for the ouster of Prime Minister Ariel Henry occurred in the capital Port-au-Prince and several other Haitian cities, including Cap-Haitien, Jacmel, Les Cayes, Miragoane and Petit-Goave. In Port-au-Prince, police officers fired live ammunition and tear gas to disperse demonstrators as they attempted to march toward the prime minister’s office. Protesters also blockaded streets with flaming barricades. Local media reports indicate that at least two protesters were killed and several others were injured during the demonstrations. Protesters are demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Henry due to the rising cost of living and a deteriorating security environment in the country.

SOUTHEAST ASIA

Philippines (Security threat level – 4): On 23 August 2022, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced the closure of government offices throughout Metro Manila and across several provinces from 23-24 August amid heavy rainfall and strong winds emanating from Tropical Storm Florita — also referred to as Tropical Storm Ma-On. The government office closures include locations in cities surrounding Metro Manila as well as offices in the provinces of Bataan, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal and Zambales. Florita made landfall at approximately 1030 local time (0230 UTC) on the morning of 23 August near the town of Maconacon on the eastern coast of northern Luzon island — located approximately 330 km (200 mi) north of Manila — with wind gusts of up to 125 kph (78 mph). According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), heavy rainfall and flooding pose a risk to the general public residing in the path of the storm.

Thailand (Security threat level – 3): On 23 August 2022, police officers in Bangkok set up barricades around government buildings ahead of upcoming demonstrations calling for an end to Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha’s tenure in office. Police barricades are primarily concentrated around the Government House, which hosts the prime minister’s office and other government buildings. Meanwhile, the Constitutional Court is also expected to announce whether it will address an opposition petition to rule on setting a limit to the prime minister’s term in office. Chan-ocha, a former army commander, initially became prime minister in August 2014 after a coup, and was inaugurated as prime minister in June 2019 following general elections. Opposition parties are declaring that Chan-ocha must step down from office, as he has been prime minister since 2014 and the constitution does not allow prime ministers to serve for more than eight years.

GOVERNMENT WARNINGS

Ukraine (Security threat level – 5): On 23 August 2022, the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv issued a Security Alert regarding an increased threat of Russian military strikes targeting civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, which reads in part as follows. “The Department of State has information that Russia is stepping up efforts to launch strikes against Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure and government facilities in the coming days. Russian strikes in Ukraine pose a continued threat to civilians and civilian infrastructure. The U.S. Embassy urges U.S. citizens to depart Ukraine now using privately available ground transportation options if it is safe to do so.”