AMERICAS

United States

Travelers in New York City should continue to anticipate disruption to rail travel following an accident on the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) yesterday. Three people were killed, and several injured a er a car was struck by two passing commuter trains near Westbury Station. While limited service to the Oyster Bay, Port Je erson, and Ronkonkoma lines has been restored, delays are expected to continue through tomorrow due to track and platform repair work, impacting travel between Manhatan and John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).

Brazil

Travelers in Porto Alegre should avoid all protests related to an ongoing municipal workers’ strike. The work stoppage is being observed over a bill aimed at reviewing the workers’ salaries and bene ts. Protests are likely at the City Council today, where a vote on the bill is due to be held. Related protests yesterday passed o peacefully.

Colombia

Today, travelers in Bogota should avoid a protest at Plaza de Bolivar from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM local me due to the risk of local unrest. Various civil groups are organizing the ac on to oppose a ne imposed by police on a man for purchasing food from a street vendor.

Haiti

Essential travel to Haiti can resume following a relative lull in unrest since February 23; however, travelers in country should minimize non-essential movement due to the potential for further demonstrations during the country’s ongoing political crisis. The latest wave of violent and disruptive an -government demonstrations in Port- au-Prince, Cap-Hai en, and other urban centers began on February 7. Opposition leaders have rejected proposed economic reforms and dialogues and continue to demand President Jovenel Moise’s removal.

Venezuela

Travelers should con nue to minimize non-essential movement amid the ongoing political crisis. The opposition is calling on President Nicolas Maduro to resign in favor of Juan Guaido, the National Assembly-recognized interim President. All political gatherings entail the risk of unrest; security forces and pro-government mili as, known as “colec vos,” regularly use tear gas, rubber bullets, and occasionally, live ammunition to disperse an -government protesters.

AFRICA & THE MIDDLE EAST

Congo (DRC)

All travel to rural areas of North Kivu and Ituri provinces should be deferred due to persistent risks from rebel and mili a activity. The insecurity has been exacerbated by an ongoing outbreak of the Ebola virus in several areas; yesterday, the Health Ministry reported 879 Ebola cases (814 confirmed) and 488 fatalities. The response to the outbreak has been hindered by an escalation in violence in affected areas, prompting some health organizations to suspend opera ons. Security forces are supporting medical staff at entrance/exit points, where travelers are screened prior to entering and exiting affected zones.
Travelers in Kinshasa and Matadi who use the N1 Highway should continue to make alternative arrangements. Part of the route collapsed on February 21 near the Camp Badiadingi area of Kinshasadue to heavy rainfall. Reconstruction work is under way and is expected to be completed within the month.

Cote d’Ivoire

Travelers in urban centers should expect and avoid further demonstrations by students denouncing an ongoing strike by primary, secondary, and public university teachers. The next rally is planned in Abidjan today. Supporters of the FESCI student union will
stage a march at 9:30 AM local me from the University of Abidjan campus. Related student demonstrations occurred nationwide on February 26. In Abidjan, police used tear gas to disperse demonstrators.

Jordan

Travelers in Jordan, including Amman, should anticipate disrup on from heavy rainfall. Authorities have declared a State of Emergency in Amman governorate due to heavy flooding and warned of ash flooding in valleys and low-level areas throughout the country. Today, the Karak-Dead Sea Road was closed due to inundation. Further road closures are possible while rainy conditions persist. Amman’s Queen Alia International Airport (AMM) is reportedly operating normally. Travelers should recon rm the status of routes and flights prior to setting out.

Nigeria

Today, travelers in Lagos should plan journeys bypassing Allen Avenue in the Ikeja district. This follows disturbances in the locality, variously reported to involve “area boys” or a political gathering. Travelers should plan alternative routes.
Travelers can resume essen al movement following the announcement of Presidential and Parliamentary election results. Yesterday, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced that incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) had won the Presidential Election. Defeated Presidential candidate A ku Abubakar of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) said he would contest the result in the courts. Non-essential travel should be deferred through March 18 during the core election period, with Gubernatorial and State Assembly elections scheduled for March 9.

ASIA & THE PACIFIC

Regional

Travelers should expect further cancellations and severe disruption to flights following the closure of Pakistani airspace through 11:59 PM local me today. This comes during increased tensions with neighboring India. No commercial services are currently opera ng to Pakistan. Air Canada has also canceled all flights to India, while multiple airlines have withdrawn a number of services to India. Thai Airways has cancelled all flights to Europe un l further notice, and other airlines are rerouting flights around Pakistani airspace. Travelers with flights that normally over y the region should recon rm schedules before setting out.

Afghanistan

Today, travelers in Kabul should anticipate heightened security measures related to Afghan National Defense Security Forces Day, an annual public holiday. Travelers should expect disruption and avoid all commemorative events and other potentitial militant targets, including government and security force personnel and buildings.

Bangladesh

Travelers in Dhaka should anticipate heightened security due to the potential for low- level unrest linked to today’s City Corpora on Elections. Campaigning has started for the polls, which are for Mayoral and Councillor posts in Dhaka North City Corpora on (DNCC) and Dhaka South City Corpora on (DSCC). Travelers should avoid all rallies and exercise caution during the election period.

India

Yesterday, the Indian government announced an alleged airspace violation by Pakistani flighter jets in the Kashmir Valley and Jammu regions. A Pakistani jet, reportedly shot down by the Indian Air Force (IAF), crashed in the Lam Valley area of the Nowshera sector in Pakistan-administered Kashmir (PAK). Pakistani authorities claim that an Indian pilot is in their custody. While a further deterioration in the security environment is unlikely and normal travel to India can continue, all travel to Line of Control (LoC) and non-essential travel to border districts in the Kashmir Valley
and Jammu regions should be deferred.

Indonesia

Today, at least 347 buildings, mostly residential properties, in South Solok regency sustained damage following a magnitude 5.4 earthquake which occurred at 6:27 AM local me. Around 30 buildings were severely damaged. The tremblor struck around 90 miles southeast of Padang, at a depth of six miles. At least 48 people were injured. Travelers should continue to follow all official directives and expect disruption to overland travel and essential services in affected areas.

Pakistan

Travel to Pakistan should be deferred un l airport opera ons resume, following an extension to the closure of Pakistani airspace un l 6:00 PM local me tomorrow. The closure was originally ordered yesterday due to heightened tensions with India. No commercial aviation services are currently operating in the country.
Today, travelers in urban centers, including Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore, should avoid planned an -war demonstrations as a precaution. The rallies are being organized under the banner of “Say No to War” in response to heightened tensions between Pakistan and India. Rallies are expected in Islamabad at 3:30 PM local me at the Press Club; in Karachi at 3:00 PM local me at the Press Club; and in Lahore at 3:00 PM local me at the Press Club.

South Korea

Tomorrow, travelers in Seoul should expect heightened security and disrup on during events marking the country’s 100th Independence Movement Day. President Moon Jae-in will address the main event at 11:00 AM local me at Gwanghwamun Square; around 10,000 people are expected to a end. Sejong-daero, from Daehanmun to Gwanghwamun intersections, as well as parts of Sajik-ro and Yulgok-ro, will be closed from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM to facilitate the parade and related celebrations. More than 400 police officers will be deployed around event venues to control traffic.

Vietnam

Travelers in Hanoi should continue to expect heightened security and related disruption, despite the departure of US President Donald Trump following his summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un yesterday. Trump left the country at around 3:45 PM local me without issuing a joint statement with Kim; however, the North Korean leader is currently expected to stay until Saturday, March 2 for an associated state visit. Access restrictions and short-notice road closures are likely in and around the city until Kim’s departure. Travelers should allow plenty of me to complete journeys and follow all official directives.

EUROPE

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Travelers in Sarajevo should plan routes avoiding an ongoing protest outside the Parliament of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The demonstration is being staged by several hundred former flighters demanding the publication of a registry of combatants and increased financial assistance. Although the protest is peaceful, it is causing local traffic disruption.

Moldova

Travelers in Chisinau and other urban centers should plan routes bypassing any gatherings linked to the results of the February 24 Parliamentary Election. Provisional results announced by the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) on February 25 indicated that no single party had won a clear majority. Should this prove to be the case, resultant political instability would be liable to prompt demonstrations, which should be avoided as a precaution and to minimize inconvenience.

Ukraine

Today, travelers in Kiev should avoid the vicinity of an ongoing protest calling for the impeachment of President Petro Poroshenko over a corruption scandal. Protesters are marching along Khreshchatyk Boulevard to a rally at the Presidential Administrave building.
The Organization for Security and Co-opera on in Europe (OSCE) confirmed that a Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) patrol stationed near Mykhailivka had come under indirect attack on February 26. It was the second such attack on the SMM in recent weeks, with both incidents highlighting the increased tensions between pro-Russian armed separatists and the Ukrainian government during the Presidential Election period. A continued spike in cease re viola ons is anticipated in the coming weeks; all travel to the buffer zone and cease re line in eastern Donetsk and Luhansk provinces should be deferred.

NOTEWORTHY EVENTS