More Dangerous Countries for Tourists
Another List of Unstable Nations in Which Visitors Will Find Danger
Jan 17, 2009
They should be taken seriously as well. Although danger lurks everywhere around the world there are still several nations that warrant further consideration before leaving home. Adrenaline junkies should also take special care if they decide to venture to any of the countries listed below. Civil strife, uncontrollable banditry and crime, natural disasters, you name it. All of the following countries have this and more. In many of these places assistance will either be difficult to find or non-existent, so unless you are a war correspondent, exercise good judgment and travel with discretion.
Chad
Unless you are a member of a humanitarian organization or some other group providing needed assistance, the U.S. State Department and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office have strongly recommended that tourists stay away from this country – period.
As a result of the conflict in the Darfur region of Sudan thousands of refugees have crossed the border into eastern Chad, worsening the already unstable security situation. Landmines are littered across the Chad/Libya border and the border with the Central African Republic is particularly hazardous due to banditry.
Somalia
This African country has not had an effective, functioning government since 1991. Foreign nationals are easy targets for kidnapping. In April of last year two men, one Briton and one Kenyan were abducted in the Juba region and are still in captivity. Working for organizations like the United Nations does not guarantee any degree of safety either, even for Somalis.
There have been several co-ordinated attacks since 2008. In October of last year three explosive devices were detonated at the UNDP (United Nations Development Program) office in Hargeisa. Essentially, there is no rule of law and nobody is safe.
Haiti
The political climate in this Caribbean nation is as best unpredictable and at worst, dangerous. Although a new Prime Minister was elected in 2008 there were violent demonstrations over the higher costs of food. Port-au-Prince and Gonaïves remain hotbeds for kidnapping, robbery and occasionally, murder. Foreign nationals should completely avoid the poor areas of Martissant and Cité Soleil in the Port-au-Prince area.
The Haitian police lack a cohesive structure of command and are not able to respond to emergencies quickly and in some cases might not appear at all. Travellers should be aware that the hurricane season runs from June to November and Haiti experiences unstable weather conditions during this period.
East Timor
Since achieving independence in 2002 this island has experienced constant instability. In February of last year President Ramos-Horta was shot and seriously wounded while at his home in Dili. Basic services remain unreliable and the country is susceptible to earthquakes.
Papua New Guinea
Anyone wishing to visit this country should do so with extreme caution. Port Moresby is the capital and visitors are advised to only travel by car with the windows rolled up and the doors locked. Armed gangs called "rascals" commit robberies in broad daylight and will not hesitate to target ATM machines.
This country is also smack in the middle of an active seismic zone, and volcanoes do erupt around Bougainville and Manam Island. Those who decide to hike along the Kokoda Track should never do it alone since undetonated explosive devices still exist.
