From: owner-travel-advisories Subject: NEW TRAVEL INFO -- Eritrea Newsgroups: wstd.travel.advisories Date: Wed, 14 Jan 1998 14:12:01 GMT Organization: The World @ Software Tool & Die Xref: world wstd.travel.advisories:1588 Path: world!daemon Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Message-ID: <199801140916_MC2-2F46-7F9F@compuserve.com> Content-Disposition: inline Precedence: bulk Sender: "U.S. Department of State" <76702.1202@compuserve.com> Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Mime-Version: 1.0 Distribution: wstd Approved: usenet@world.std.com Lines: 121 STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - Eritrea ============================================================ Eritrea - Consular Information Sheet January 13, 1998 Country Description: Eritrea is a poor but developing east African country. Formerly a province of Ethiopia, Eritrea became an independent country on May 24, 1993, following a 30-year struggle, which culminated in an overwhelming referendum vote for independence. There are occasional reports of terrorist attacks by the Eritrean Islamic Jihad (EIJ) on Eritrean civilians in western areas bordering Sudan. Tourism facilities are very limited. The capital city is Asmara. Entry Requirements: A visa is required and must be obtained in advance. There is an airport departure tax. Entry information (and information on departure tax) may be obtained at the Embassy of Eritrea, 1708 New Hampshire Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20009; telephone (202) 319-1991; fax (202) 319-1304. Overseas, inquiries may be made at the nearest Eritrean embassy or consulate. Travel Information: Eritrea and Sudan do not have diplomatic relations. Overland travel between these two countries is dangerous and strongly discouraged by the United States. Air travel between Asmara and Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, is heavily booked, and advance reservations are recommended by the airlines. Passengers should allow two hours minimum for pre-departure security and other processing at the airport in Asmara. Areas of Instability: The border between Eritrea and Sudan is tense, and there have been occasional reports of Sudanese aircraft making bombing runs in border areas. In addition, there is a risk of encountering banditry or Eritrean Islamic Jihad (EIJ) terrorist activity near the Eritrean-Sudanese border in areas north and west of the road between Keren and Barentu, and along the coastline north of Massawa. There are reports that EIJ insurgents have laid new land mines, and EIJ attacks have occurred in these areas. Travelers may encounter banditry unrelated to the EIJ along the coastline south of Massawa. In December 1996, five foreigners were killed near Fil-Fil, an area 30 km. north of Asmara. The U.S. recommends that travelers use extreme caution when traveling in these areas, and that they avoid them if possible. If such travel is essential, travelers should consult both local government and U.S. Embassy officials. Road Safety Conditions and Domestic Travel Hazards: Some roads in Eritrea are in poor condition and many are unpaved. Land mines and unexploded ordnance litter the countryside in many areas and continue to cause injuries and deaths. Although a demining effort is underway, it is wise to consider all areas that are not well traveled as potentially dangerous due to live mines. Areas north and west of Keren are known to be heavily mined. Check with local government and local village officials before making such travel. Avoid walking alone and hiking in riverbeds or areas that local government officials do not certify as safe. Travelers should exercise caution when traveling to remote areas or off primary roads, avoiding secondary roads when possible. Travelers should ensure that other traffic has passed over unimproved roads before traveling on them, which may mean delaying an early morning departure from remote areas or waiting until traffic resumes after a lull due to bad weather or other factors. Medical Facilities: Medical facilities in Eritrea are extremely limited. Travelers must bring their own supplies of prescription drugs and preventive medicines. Doctors and hospitals expect immediate cash payment for health care services. U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States. The Medicare/Medicaid program does not provide for payment of medical services outside the United States. In some cases, supplemental medical insurance with specific overseas coverage, including medical evacuation coverage, has proven useful. For additional health information, travelers may contact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's international travelers hotline at (404) 332-4559; Internet: http://www.cdc.gov. Information on Crime: Street crime such as theft and robbery is rare in Asmara, the capital, and in many cities and towns. Travelers should exercise normal safety precautions regarding valuables carried and areas visited. The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to local police and to the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. The pamphlets "A Safe Trip Abroad" and "Tips for Travelers to Sub-Saharan Africa" provide useful information on personal security while traveling abroad and on travel in the region in general. Both are available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402. Currency Regulations: The government of Eritrea introduced the country's new currency, the Nafka, in November 1997. Credit cards are not widely accepted. As of January 1998, only the airlines and one hotel accept them. Generally, foreigners must pay bills at major hotels in U.S. dollars or U.S. dollar-denomination travelers checks. Drug Penalties: U.S. citizens are subject to the laws of the country in which they are traveling. Penalties for possession, use or trafficking in illegal drugs are strictly enforced. Convicted offenders may expect long jail sentences, fines and possible confiscation of personal property. Registration/Embassy Location: U.S. citizens are encouraged to register with the U.S. Embassy in Asmara and to obtain updated information on travel and security in Eritrea. The U.S. Embassy address is Franklin Roosevelt Street, P.O. Box 211 Asmara. The telephone number is (291-1)12-00-04; the fax number is (291-1)12-75-84. No. 98-03 This replaces the Consular Information Sheet issued January 31, 1997 to update the information on areas of instability. ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- The "travel-advisories@stolaf.edu" mailing list is the official Internet and BITNET distribution point for the U.S. State Department Travel Warnings and Consular Information Sheets. To unsubscribe, send a message containing the word "unsubscribe" to: travel-advisories-request@stolaf.edu Archives of past "travel-advisories" postings are available at the URL: "http://www.stolaf.edu/network/travel-advisories.html" or via Gopher: gopher.stolaf.edu, Internet Resources/US-State-Department-Travel-Advisories