AFRICA

Uganda (Security threat level – 4): On 11 July 2022, police officers deployed tear gas to disperse demonstrators who had blockaded a stretch of the A109 Highway near the town of Jinja — located approximately 80 km (50 mi) east of the capital Kampala — to protest rising prices of fuel, food and other basic goods. According to local authorities, the officers fired tear gas after the demonstrators refused to remove barriers, including stacks of burning tires, they had set up to halt traffic on the highway. There were no reports of injuries. Authorities arrested at least eight demonstrators.

ASIA

Pakistan (Security threat level – 5): On 11 July 2022, torrential rainfall caused widespread flooding and traffic jams throughout the port of city of Karachi in the latest downpour of seasonal monsoon rains. According to local media reports, several streets near the city center, including I.I. Chundrigar Road, remain inundated with floodwaters. Streets and roadways in the affluent Defense Housing Authority area — including the Tauheed Commercial Area, 26th street and Sabe avenue — remain flooded with vehicles stranded in the streets. Rolling electricity blackouts continue to occur throughout the city and the Pakistan Meteorological Department has forecast additional heavy rainfall for the coming days. Thus far, 14 weather-related fatalities have been reported in the city.

EUROPE

Portugal (Security threat level – 2): On 11 July 2022, authorities in Portugal issued a nationwide “red warning” — the highest possible alert level on the warning scale — due to rising temperatures and an increased risk of forest fires. The country remains under a state of contingency until 15 July due to an extreme risk of wildfires, a status that could be extended further should current conditions persist or worsen. Several forest fires have erupted throughout the country in recent days, and temperatures are expected to exceed 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) as of 12 July.

Portugal (Security threat level – 2): On 12 July 2022, Portuguese state-owned rail company Comboios de Portugal (CP) announced that passengers on its Alfa Pendular, Intercidades, interregional and regional trains will likely experience service disruptions on 12 and 14 July due to labor strikes organized by the infrastructure workers’ union. According to the company, protesting workers will observe a strike from 0000-2400 local time on both days; however, at least 30% of services between the cities of Lisbon and Porto will run as scheduled. Travelers who booked tickets prior to the beginning of the strikes will be eligible for full refunds.