International travel Web site gives stats - If you're traveling abroad, check this out

The possible hazards of international travel affect many in the Hopkins community. Many of us live abroad or have family abroad. Additionally, there are many opportunities for Hopkins students to study in other countries. In light of recent events, it is now especially important to consider the possible hazards that Americans may face abroad when making travel plans.

The Hopkins administration suggests monitoring the Bureau of Consular Affairs Web site http://www.travel.state.gov for warnings about international travel. The Bureau of Consular Affairs has issued a general warning that current US military action, "may result in strong anti-American sentiment and retaliatory actions against U.S. citizens and interests throughout the world by terrorists and those who are sympathetic to or otherwise support terrorism."

The Web site offers especially emphatic warnings to Americans in Sudan and Guatemala and asks that Americans elsewhere, "monitor the local news, maintain contact with the nearest American embassy or consulate and limit their movement in their respective locations."

Since Sept. 11, travel warnings have been posted for Yemen, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Indonesia and Sudan, suggesting that Americans avoid travel to these countries if at all possible. Public announcements have been posted for Rwanda, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Bangladesh, Niger, Italy, Luxembourg, Philippines and Guatemala.

While not all of these warnings and announcements pertain to the Sept. 11 terrorist attack, many do. Where applicable, the travel warnings and public announcements give information about specific threats in these countries from terrorist activity. For instance, Americans in Italy are warned that the State Department, "has received information that 'symbols of American capitalism' in Italy may be targeted for attack in the next month."

In Yemen it is suggested that, "All American citizens in Yemen are urged to review their personal security situations and to take those actions they deem appropriate to ensure their well-being, including consideration of departure from the country."

The Bureau of Consular Affairs advises that students who do plan to travel abroad read the State Department's Consular information sheets for the countries that they plan to visit, check for Public Announcements of Travel Warnings in those countries, learn about the culture in those countries and always respect that culture and learn at least basic phrases in the languages spoken there.

In addition to information offered on a country by country basis, the Web site has travel publications, Consular information sheets for every country in the world, passport and visa information, information on judicial assistance while abroad and links to U.S. Embassy and Consulate Web sites. The Web site is easy to search and very informative.