Global Reach | Now Boarding Blog | Services | ATG

Travelers are urged to use caution as well as prepare for travel delays in many parts of the world:

THAILAND (BANGKOK) - (Update) Latest reports indicate that the Nana BTS (Skytrain) station and Sukhumvit Road in Thailand's capital, Bangkok, have been re-opened following the discovery of a suspicious item earlier on 19 August. It has subsequently emerged that it was a false alarm. The station is located on the Sukhumvit Line, in the Watthana district. Clients in Bangkok are advised to account for possible localised travel disruptions while services normalise.

FRANCE(RODEZ) - Hundreds of farmers protested in the town of Rodez, in France, on 18 August. The protest action was called by the French National Federation of Farmers Unions (FDSEA) and French Union of Young Farmers (JA), and was in opposition to the reduced dairy products supply prices initiated by the Savencia group. The farmers blockaded streets with tractors in the vicinity of several supermarkets in the area and removed Savencia group products from the supermarket shelves. Protesting farmers have caused significant disruptions in France in recent weeks. Precedent indicates that the protest action may extend for several days. Such demonstrations have been characterised by disruptions to travel, tourist sights and transport hubs. Furthermore, farmers have previously dumped large amounts of manure and other farm by-products in major intersections, causing lengthy delays. Clients in Rodez should anticipate and plan for road congestion related to possible ongoing protest action on 19 August and over the coming days. Travellers in the area should avoid driving through roadblocks and should seek alternative routes.

HUNGARY - The Hungarian Meteorological Service (OMSZ) has issued an adverse weather warning for several counties across Hungary on 19 August. The weather warning will remain in effect until 20 August, at least. Counties anticipated to be affected by torrential rain include Borsod-Abauj-Zemplen, Hajdu-Bihar, Nograd and Jasz-Nagykun-Szolnok. Other counties likely to experience rainfall include Pest, Baranya, Bekes, Csongrad and Szabolcs-Szatmar-Bereg. Hungary's capital, Budapest, has recently experienced heavy rainfall, resulting in flooding. Resultant disruptions to transport services and road closures were reported on 17 August. Flood-affected areas pose a hazard; as such, and as a standard precaution, these areas should be avoided until floodwaters recede. Clients in the above-mentioned areas are advised to monitor local media closely for updates and advisories from the local authorities. Travellers should exercise caution in flood-affected areas due to the respective threats of flooding. Persons travelling by road or rail should reconfirm all services with their travel provider or the relevant local transport authority prior to departure.

SOUTH AFRICA(GAUTENG,MPUMALANGA, NORTH WEST & FREE STATE PROVINCES) - Disruptions to water services in parts of South Africa's Gauteng, Mpumalanga, North West and Free State provinces are possible from 19 August due to a strike by unionised municipal workers employed by Rand Water, the country's largest water utility. The action forms part of an ongoing wage dispute by workers represented by the South African Municipal Workers' Union (Samwu). The workers have threatened to continue the strike until their grievances are addressed; negotiations between Rand Water and Samwu have proven unsuccessful to date. Further details regarding the industrial action and associated demonstrations have not been disclosed. Strikes and demonstrations stemming from political issues and labour disputes are common in South Africa. Such gatherings frequently turn violent, disrupting traffic, businesses and service delivery. Consequently, the potential for violent unrest at any strike-related demonstrations cannot be discounted. Rand Water is expected to implement contingency plans to mitigate the disruption to water supplies caused by the strike; the utility will reportedly provide portable water services to all its customers. It should be noted that strikes of this nature may be extended, cancelled or suspended on an ad hoc basis. Persons operating in the aforementioned provinces are advised to make allowances for possible disruptions to water supplies on 19 August. Clients are further advised to avoid all large street gatherings and related demonstrations as a precaution. Itineraries should be kept flexible in order to mitigate potential travel delays in the vicinity of any demonstrations.

TURKEY(LICE & SILVAN(DIYARBAKIR PROVINCE)) - Curfews, including a restriction on internet and telephone use, have been declared in the Lice and Silvan areas of Turkey's south eastern Diyarbakir province following recent violence attributed to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). The duration of the curfew is unclear. On 18 August, military forces and PKK rebels clashed in Silvan, leaving one person dead and another wounded. Similar clashes were reported in Lice on the same day, leaving one soldier dead and three wounded. The Lice clashes were initiated after PKK militants closed the road from Diyarbakir to Bingol. PKK rebels and affiliated militants have also reportedly blocked roads in a number of areas in Diyarbakir in recent days. There has been an increase in PKK-related violence in the predominantly Kurdish south east since early July. Attacks against Turkish police, state and military interests have been regularly reported. Most incidents have been low level in nature. The increase in violence is attributed to PKK claims that the Turkish government was complicit in a suicide bombing targeting pro-Kurdish volunteers in Suruc on 20 July. The government rejected these claims and initiated air strikes against PKK positions in south eastern Turkey and in northern Iraq. Additional military and police operations have also been reported countrywide against suspected PKK positions leading to the arrest of hundreds. The violence in the south is expected to persist; state facilities and personnel remain the most likely to be affected. Clients are advised against all travel to within 10km of the shared border with Syria in the Turkish provinces of Hatay, Kilis, Gaziantep, Sanliurfa, Mardin and Sirnak due to the threat of conflict spillover from Syria and an increased risk of terrorism. Heightened caution is advised elsewhere in these provinces (except Sirnak, see below) due to elevated conflict and terrorism risks. Clients are further advised against all non-essential travel to the provinces of Van, Sirnak and Hakkari due to the risk of conflict between the Turkish military and Kurd rebels, as well as elevated risks of terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping and crime. In addition, heightened caution is advised in all eastern and south eastern provinces of Turkey, particularly in rural areas, due to the risks of terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, crime, and Kurd rebel-related conflict. These provinces include Ardahan, Agri, Kars, Igdir, Siirt, Batman, Bitlis, Mus, Bingol, Elazig, Erzincan, Tunceli, Diyarbakir and Erzurum. Travellers in these regions should avoid police, state and military interests. Persons in Diyarbakir are advised to monitor local media for updates regarding the curfew period and should abide by all directives issued by the local authorities.

TURKEY(ISTANBUL) - Gunfire and at least one explosion have been reported near the Dolmabahce Palace, located in Turkey's commercial capital, Istanbul. Further details remain unclear at this stage. Clients in Istanbul are advised to defer all travel to the Dolmabahce Palace and its immediate surrounds at this time. Furthermore, heightened caution should be exercised in other public places, such as transport hubs, public squares and tourist venues in the city, at this time.

SYRIA(AL QAMISHLI) - A suicide truck bomb detonated in Al Qamishli city, in north eastern Syria, earlier on 19 August. The blast, which occurred outside of the offices of the local Kurdish security forces, killed at least ten people. The area is located deep within Kurd- and regime-controlled territory in north eastern Syria. The likely initiators of the attack are militants linked to the Islamic State (IS). IS is currently battling the regime and Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) along a broad frontline stretching from Aleppo governorate to the Iraqi border in the north. Attacks along the frontline are regularly reported, while attacks deeper in Kurd and regime-held territory, including in Al Qamishli, are reported with less frequency. Clients are advised against all travel to Syria due to a number of ongoing security concerns.

SERBIA - Following a periodic review, red24 has lowered the terrorism and conflict risk ratings for Serbia from medium to low. The change does not affect the overall risk rating, which remains medium. Serbia has stabilised considerably since the 1990s and early 2000s; drivers of instability, including tensions with Kosovo, have diminished somewhat as the country has sought greater ties with the European Union (EU). This has resulted in a decrease in the frequency of related politically motivated violence and a reduction in the threat of conflict. A number of southern areas of the country continue to carry an elevated security risk to travellers, including the Albanian majority areas of Presevo and Bujanovac, as well as the restive Sandzak area. Elsewhere, crime rates are considered medium overall and pose a risk to travellers if basic precautions are not adopted. Various socio-economic and political concerns also continue to carry the risk of civil unrest. Clients travelling to Serbia are advised to exercise basic precautions with regard to their property and person. Heightened caution and vigilance are advised in southern Serbia. Local media should be closely monitored for updates on developments. For further guidance, clients should contact their security provider.

SOUTH SUDAN(JUBA(CENTRAL EQUATORIA)) - Aviation authorities in South Sudan have announced the weekly closure of Juba International Airport, located in the eponymous capital, on Saturdays and Sundays between 22 August 2015 and 30 April 2016. The closures are being implemented to facilitate construction and renovation work at the airport. All international and domestic flights scheduled to transit through the airport on weekends will be suspended or re-routed for the duration of the closure. Clients intending to transit through Juba International Airport on the aforementioned affected days are advised to contact the airport or their airline directly to enquire about the status of their flight(s).

BRAZIL - Various social movements and trade unions have called for protests in several cities across Brazil on 20 August. The protests have been organised in defence of social rights and democracy, as well as to protest against government economic policies, including fiscal adjustments and other structural reforms associated with the president of the country's Chamber of Deputies, Eduardo Cunha. The protests have also been organised in defence of president Dilma Rousseff's administration, following large-scale anti-government protests on 16 August. Participants are expected to gather at Largo da Batata in Sao Paulo at 17:00 local time, at Cinelandia and Candelaria in Rio de Janeiro at 11:00 and 16:00 respectively, at Zumbi dos Palmares and Dos Aposentados squares in Brasilia at 17:00, at Iguatemi in Salvador at 09:00, and at Bandeira Square in Fortaleza at 14:00. Protests are also expected at central squares in other state capitals across the country. The anti-government demonstrations in Brazil on 16 August were attended by hundreds of thousands of protesters; no major security incidents were reported. Anti-government protests are also possible on 20 August. The upcoming protests are likely to be peaceful; however, minor confrontations between rival groups of protesters, as well as with police, are possible. Clients should anticipate localised road travel disruptions in and surrounding all protest areas. Persons in Brazil on 20 August are advised to monitor local media or contact their security provider for updates on the location of the planned protests. All street protests should be avoided as a standard precaution.

TOGO(LOME) - A civil society organisation is scheduled to hold an unsanctioned sit-in protest in Togo's capital, Lome, on 20 and 21 August. The gathering, which has been organised to protest against rising food and commodity costs, is set to take place outside the prime minister's offices. Details regarding the time and duration of the gathering have not been disclosed; however, organisers are allegedly expecting a significant turnout. As the demonstration has yet to receive the sanction of city authorities, there is a credible threat that the gathering may be dispersed by security personnel. Any such actions could catalyse confrontations with activists and security forces, which could pose an indiscriminate risk to bystanders. Clients in Lome are advised to avoid any gatherings on 20 and 21 August and to ensure that itineraries remain flexible if travel is undertaken near the prime minister's offices.

ATG has Customer Coaches available around-the-clock should you

need assistance with your travel plans.