AMERICAS

Colombia (Security threat level – 4): Various Colombian unions are planning to launch a strike in major cities across Colombia on 25 April 2019 to protest against the government’s National Development Plan. The strikers are also planning to hold accompanying demonstrations in at least 19 out of Colombia’s 32 departments. In Bogotá, union workers will march from five different points in the city and converge on the Plaza de Bolívar. In Medellín, demonstrators will march from Parque de Los Deseos to the Alpujarra Administrative Center. In Barranquilla, demonstrators will march from the Inem Calle 30 School to the Simón Bolívar neighborhood roundabout. In Cartagena, demonstrators will rally at the India Catalina Monument. Travelers in Colombia should anticipate significant traffic disruptions in the vicinity of these marches.

ASIA

Sri Lanka (Security threat level – 3): On 25 April 2019, authorities briefly closed the Central Bank of Sri Lanka in Colombo’s central business district after the facility received a false bomb threat. Several roads in the vicinity were also closed while police officials investigated the threat. Authorities also closed the main road leading to Colombo’s Bandaranaike International Airport (VCBI/CMB) as a precaution after a suspicious vehicle was seen in a parking lot. Authorities later determined that the vehicle did not pose a threat.

Meanwhile, an explosion occurred in a vacant lot near the magistrates’ court in the city of Pugoda, located approximately 40 km (25 mi) east of Colombo. Police officials stated that the explosion took place in a garbage dump located in the vacant lot and officers were investigating the cause of the explosion. There were no reports of injuries or damage.

EUROPE

Belarus / Lithuania / Ukraine / Czech Republic (Security threat levels – 3 / 2 / 4 / 2): As of 25 April 2019, authorities in Belarus, the Czech Republic, Lithuania and Ukraine are on high alert for forest fires, amid dry weather conditions and high winds. Authorities in Belarus extinguished two massive fires near the country’s borders with Ukraine and Lithuania on 24 April. The fires briefly led to the closure of the Privalka border crossing between Belarus and Lithuania. Belarus authorities have also banned the public from entering forests in 18 regions across the country, including 11 in the Grodno oblast and seven in the central Minsk oblast. Meanwhile, In the Czech Republic, the Hydrometeorological Institute has issued a fire warning for the Moravian region and the Highlands until further notice, while in Ukraine, the State Emergency Service has warned that an extreme level of fire hazard was expected in the northern, western, central and Kharkiv regions of Ukraine through at least 28 April.

Denmark / Norway / Sweden (Security threat levels – 2 / 2 / 2): As of 25 April 2019, pilots in Denmark, Norway and Sweden employed by Scandinavian airline SAS have threatened to launch an indefinite strike beginning on 26 April unless a last-minute deal is reached on wages and working hours. The pilots from these three countries represent approximately 95 percent of the airline’s pilots in Scandinavia. While not all flights are at risk of cancellation or disruption, authorities stated that approximately 70 percent of flights could be affected. SAS officials have advised passengers that they can reschedule flights booked for the 26-29 April period to another date free of charge.

SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

Mozambique (Security threat level – 3): According to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center, as of 0900 UTC on 25

April 2019, Tropical Cyclone Kenneth (24S) was located approximately 170 km (105 mi) west of Comoros Island, and was moving west-southwest at a speed of 15 kph (9 mph). At that time, the storm was generating maximum sustained winds of 232 kph, with gusts of up to 278 kph. Kenneth made landfall in Comoros and Mayotte on 24 April, bringing heavy rains and high winds to both islands. Kenneth is expected to strengthen and could make landfall in northern Mozambique on 25 April as a Category 4 storm. Mozambique’s national airline LAM has suspended all flights from Maputo International Airport (FQMA/MPM) to Pemba Airport (FQPB/POL) ahead of Cyclone Kenneth’s arrival. Landslides and flash flooding are expected throughout northern Mozambique.

GOVERNMENT WARNINGS

Benin (Security threat level – 3): On 24 April 2019, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) issued updated travel advice for Benin, which reads in part as follows:

Benin (Security threat level – 3): On 24 April 2019, the U.S. Embassy in Cotonou issued a Security Alert, which reads in part as follows:

Colombia (Security threat level – 4): On 24 April 2019, the U.K. Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) issued updated travel advice for Colombia, which reads in part as follows:

Kosovo (Security threat level – 4): On 25 April 2019, the U.S. Embassy in Pristina issued a Demonstration Alert for 26 April, which reads in part as follows:

Nigeria (Security threat level – 5): On 24 April 2019, the U.K. Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) issued updated travel advice for Nigeria, which reads in part as follows:

Paraguay (Security threat level – 3): On 25 April 2019, the U.S. Embassy in Asuncion issued a Demonstration

Alert, which reads in part as follows:

Security threat levels range from 1 (Very Low) to 5 (Very High) and are determined using a comprehensive system that utilizes both qualitative and quantitative analysis. The primary factors used to determine a location’s security threat level are Armed Conflict, Crime, Demonstrations/Strikes, Ethnic/Sectarian Tensions, Graft/Corruption, Kidnapping, Political Instability, Government Restriction and Terrorism.