Newsgroups: wstd.travel.advisories From: 76702.1202@CompuServe.COM (Wally Doerge) Subject: NEW TRAVEL INFO -- Ethiopia Organization: The World @ Software Tool & Die Distribution: wstd Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1993 16:46:21 GMT STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - Ethiopia ============================================================ Ethiopia - Consular Information Sheet October 18, 1993 Country Description: Ethiopia is a developing East African country. After more than two decades of civil war, which ended in May 1991, certain areas of the country are still experiencing lawlessness and low-level civil strife. Tourism facilities in Ethiopia are minimal. Eritrea, formerly a province of Ethiopia, became an independent country on May 24, 1993. A separate Consular Information Sheet on Eritrea has been issued. Entry Requirements: A passport and a visa are required, as well as evidence of yellow fever immunization. Travelers must enter Ethiopia by air, either at Addis Ababa or at Dire Dawa. Travelers entering overland risk being detained by immigration authorities and/or fined. Airport visas may be obtained only if 72 hours advance notice has been provided to proper authorities within Ethiopia. Airport visas are not available to travelers departing >from or traveling through a country where an Ethiopian diplomatic mission is located. Exit visas are required of all visitors remaining in Ethiopia for more than 30 days. For more information on entry requirements, travelers may contact the Embassy of Ethiopia, 2134 Kalorama Road, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008, telephone (202) 234-2281/2. Areas of Instability: Travel to areas of Nekemte (formerly known as Wollega province) is risky. Armed units of the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) and forces of the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPDRF) periodically clash. Travel overland to the eastern towns of Dire Dawa, Harar and Jijiga and surrounding areas is also dangerous. Armed confrontations between opposing political and ethnic groups continue on a sporadic basis in the province of Hararghe, although relief organizations, which had temporarily suspended operations because of violence and unsettled conditions, have resumed both development and relief operations in that area. Incidents of banditry are not uncommon in the southernmost areas of Ethiopia, along the Kenyan border. There is also possible spillover >from the conflict in Somalia for travelers in nearby border areas. Travel within the Country: Domestic and international air services generally operate on schedule, although flights between Addis Ababa and Asmara are heavily booked and may be canceled without prior warning. Eight domestic flights have been hijacked within the last year, the first seven of which ended quickly and without casualties. Two hijackers and one passenger died during the eighth hijacking, which ended when Ethiopian forces stormed the airplane. Travelers can expect that any future hijackings will be dealt with forcefully. Domestic Travel Hazards: Land mines and other anti-personnel devices litter the Ethiopian countryside, particularly along major roads. Many persons, including foreigners, have been injured by these devices. Travel on paved roads generally is safer than travel on unpaved roads. Areas off the pavement around bridges or water crossings may also be hazardous. Frequent fuel shortages can make travel outside of Addis Ababa very difficult, if traveling by car. Vehicle travel after dark outside Addis Ababa is risky. Medical Facilities: Medical facilities in Ethiopia are extremely limited. Even the best hospitals in Addis Ababa suffer from inadequate facilities, antiquated equipment and shortages of supplies, particularly medications, although physicians themselves are generally well-trained. Emergency assistance is limited. Travelers generally bring their own supplies of prescription drugs and preventive medicines. Doctors and hospitals usually expect cash payment for services. Not all U.S. medical insurance is valid outside the United States. Supplemental medical insurance with specific overseas coverage and medical evacuation provisions has proved useful. Information on health matters can be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control's international travelers hotline, telephone (404) 332-4559. Information on Crime: Pick-pocketing is rampant, and there have been numerous reports of thieves snatching jewelry. Banditry occurs on roads outside major towns or cities, and may result in violent attacks. 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 protecting 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: There continues to be a lively black market for hard currency in Ethiopia, despite a recent devaluation of the Ethiopian birr. Visitors must declare hard currency upon arrival and may be required to present this declaration when applying for an exit visa. Penalties for exchanging money on the black market range >from fines to imprisonment. Credit cards are not widely accepted in Ethiopia, and hotel and car rental expenses must be paid in hard currency. Prohibition on Photography: Certain buildings and public places may not be photographed. Travel guides, police and Ethiopian officials can advise if a particular site may be photographed. Photographing banned sites may result in the confiscation of film and camera. Equipment such as video cameras must be declared upon arrival and departure from Ethiopia. Export of Antiques and Animal Skins: Permits are required before either antiques or animal skins can be exported from Ethiopia. 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 can expect jail sentences, fines and possible confiscation of personal property. Registration: U.S. citizens who register at the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa may obtain updated information on travel and security in Ethiopia. Embassy Location: The U.S. Embassy is located at Entoto Avenue, P.O. Box 1014, in Addis Ababa. The telephone is (251-1) 550-666, extension 316 or 336; the emergency after hours number is (251-1) 552-558. The U.S. Embassy general fax number is (251-1) 55-21-91 and the consular fax number is (251-1) 552-243. No. 93-271 This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated June 9, 1993, to provide additional information about domestic travel hazards and prohibition on photography, and to list the consular fax number at the U. S. Embassy.