Kyrgyzstan / Tajikistan (Security threat levels – 5 / 4): As of the afternoon of 16 September 2022, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov and Tajik President Emomali Rahmon have ordered a ceasefire to end at least 48 hours of intense fighting along a disputed portion of the Tajik-Kyrgyz border, located near Kyrgyzstan’s Batken region. It is unclear if the ceasefire is holding properly. Prior to the ceasefire, Kyrgyz officials claimed that Tajik military forces entered at least one Kyrgyz village and shelled Batken Airport (UAFB). Tajik officials claimed that Kyrgyz troops shelled at least seven Tajik villages — including Khojai Aalo, Kummazar, Surkh, Somonian, Kulkandi and Isfara city. At least 55 Kyrgyz civilians and military personnel were injured in the fighting. No details were available regarding Tajik casualties. The latest fighting followed skirmishes that took place on 15 September in which a total of four Tajik and Kyrgyz border guards were killed and 11 civilians were wounded.
Dominican Republic / Puerto Rico / Turks and Caicos Islands / Virgin Islands (Security threat levels – 3 / 2 / 2 / 1): As of 0800 local time (1200 UTC) on 16 September 2022, Tropical Storm Fiona was located approximately 285 km (175 mi) east of the island of Guadeloupe and was moving west at a speed of nearly 25 kph (15 mph), according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center. At the time, the storm had maximum sustained winds of 85 kph with higher gusts. Fiona is currently forecast to continue toward the west with a decrease in forward speed through late 17 September or early 18 September before turning west-northwest toward the Leeward Islands. The storm is expected to move across the Leeward Islands during the evening hours of 16 September and then move near Puerto Rico and the U.S. and British Virgin Islands by the nighttime hours of 17 September.
Tropical Storm Fiona is expected to produce 75-150 mm (3-6 in) of rain in the Leeward and Northern Windward islands; 100-150 mm in the Virgin Islands; 100-200 mm in Puerto Rico, with maximum totals of up to 300 mm in the eastern and southern areas; 150-250 mm in the eastern Dominican Republic; and 100-200 mm in the islands of Turks and Caicos. The rainfall may generate flash flooding in urban areas and mudslides in high terrain areas — especially in the eastern Dominican Republic and southeastern portions of Puerto Rico. Localized flooding may occur during 17-18 September in areas along the coastlines of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Storm-generated swells will produce dangerous surf and riptide conditions for the Leeward Islands, Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. A Tropical Storm Warning is currently in effect for the islands of Antigua, Barbuda, St. Kitts, Nevis, Montserrat, and Anguilla, Saba and St. Eustatius, St. Maarten, Guadeloupe, St. Barthelemy, and St. Martin. Additionally, a Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for Puerto Rico, the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, and Dominica.
Haiti (Security threat level – 5): On 15 September 2022, violent demonstrations and looting continued in Haiti — including in the capital Port-au-Prince — amid an announced increase in gas prices. In Port-au-Prince’s southern Delmas neighborhood, demonstrators engaged in looting, set fire to businesses and vehicles, and erected flaming barricades on the streets. Rioters stormed and ransacked the building complex that houses the headquarters of National Television of Haiti, a state-run television station. Additionally, protesters in the affluent Thomasin neighborhood set fire to the residence of a former senator who heads the Fusion of Haitian Social Democrats (FSDH) party.
Meanwhile, in the commune of Gonaïves — located approximately 100 km (60 mi) southwest of Cap-Haitien — the warehouses of the World Food Program and the Catholic charity organization Caritas were looted. Individuals were seen exiting the warehouses with large sacks of rice and other foodstuffs. Witnesses also reported fires at the storage facilities of the non-profit organizations following the looting, though the cause of the blazes is yet to be established. Protesters in Gonaïves set fire to debris, blocking traffic on the streets.
Several foreign missions to Haiti have suspended operations in response to the intensified unrest, including the Canadian, Dominican, French, Spanish and Taiwanese embassies. Other embassies in Port-au-Prince have evacuated their staff members. In response to the unrest, on the evening of 15 September the Haitian National Police suspended all permits for carrying weapons.
Italy (Security threat level – 1): Overnight on 15-16 September 2022, heavy rainfall caused extensive flash flooding in the central Marche region. Approximately 400 mm (15 in) of rain was recorded in the regional capital Ancona within less than three hours, inundating streets throughout the city and nearby towns. Authorities deployed more than 300 emergency personnel to conduct search and rescue operations in the municipalities of Arcevia, Babara, Cantiano, Sassoferrato, Senigallia, Serra de Conti and Serra Santabbondio. At least nine people were killed and four others remain missing. Local media reports indicate that at least 50 people have been hospitalized, mostly for hypothermia.
United Kingdom (Security threat level – 3): Fight operations at London’s Heathrow Airport (EGLL/LHR) will be disrupted on 19 September 2022 due to the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. The airport has announced that 15% of its flight schedule will be adjusted to ensure skies over London remain quiet during the funeral-related events. Flights at the facility will be completely halted for 30 minutes around 1200 local time (1100 UTC) after a two-minute silence observed at the end of the funeral. No flights will be permitted to arrive at the airport from 1345-1420 local time, while departures will be halted for about 45 minutes shortly after 1500 local time. Additionally, the number of flights departing the airport will be reduced during the evening from 1645-2100 local time. British Airways has canceled 50 short-haul flights scheduled to operate through the facility, while Virgin Atlantic has canceled at least four flights. The U.K. Civil Aviation Authority maintains airspace restrictions in and around London; further details are available here.
Lebanon (Security threat level – 5): On 16 September 2022, armed individuals seeking their own deposits targeted at least eight banks across Lebanon. The targeted banks include two BLOM banks, Banque Libano-Française, Lebanon & Gulf Bank and Fransabank in the capital Beirut, as well as Bank Audi in Chiyah and Byblos bank in Ghazieh. In response to threats from the Lebanese Depositors Association to continue the armed incursions, the Lebanese Banks Association announced a three-day closure for all branches beginning on 19 September. Lebanese banks have been withholding customer deposits for the past two and a half years, as they no longer possess sufficient hard dollar currency to cover deposits.
Malawi (Security threat level – 3): On 16 September 2022, the U.S. Embassy in Lilongwe issued a Demonstration Alert, which reads in part as follows: “Location: Lilongwe, Blantyre, potentially other cities throughout Malawi
“Event: Demonstrations/strikes/protests September 19-22 in Lilongwe, Blantyre, and in other cities throughout Malawi.
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