From: owner-travel-advisories Subject: NEW TRAVEL INFO -- Liberia Newsgroups: wstd.travel.advisories Date: Fri, 6 Feb 1998 19:38:31 GMT Organization: The World @ Software Tool & Die Xref: world wstd.travel.advisories:1609 Path: world!bzs Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Message-ID: <199802061441_MC2-3243-E772@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: 137 STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - Liberia ============================================================ Liberia - Travel Warning February 6, 1998 The Department of State warns U.S. citizens against travel to Liberia. A democratically elected government was installed on August 2, 1997, but its control of the countryside is uneven and lawlessness remains a potential threat in some areas. Security in the northwest region of Liberia is questionable because of continued rebel activity in Sierra Leone and instability along the Sierra Leone/Liberia border. For further information, please consult the Department of State's latest Consular Information Sheet on Liberia. No. 98-01 This replaces the Travel Warning dated September 13, 1996 to note the continued security problems in Liberia. Liberia - Consular Information Sheet October 29, 1996 Warning: The Department of State warns U.S. citizens against travel to Liberia. Although West African peacekeepers (ECOMOG) have redeployed throughout Monrovia and reestablished the city as a safehaven, there are frequent reports of armed robberies and other crimes throughout the city. Sporadic fighting continues outside of Monrovia with travelers encountering harassment and physical violence by armed combatants manning roadblocks. Country Description: Liberia is a developing west African country which has suffered internal strife for the past several years. Tourism facilities are poor and, in some cases, non-existent. Entry Requirements: Travelers who plan a trip to Liberia despite this warning are required to have a passport and a visa prior to arrival. Evidence of a yellow fever vaccination is required. An exit permit must be obtained from Liberian immigration authorities before departure. Further information on entry requirements for Liberia can be obtained from the Embassy of the Republic of Liberia, 5201 16th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20011. The telephone numbers are (202) 723-0437 to 723-0440. Areas of Instability: The situation in Liberia changes daily. Since May 1996, a cease fire among the warring factions has been respected in Monrovia, although sporadic fighting continues in the countryside. In August 1996, leaders of the factions agreed to a new timetable for implementing a 1995 accord (the Abuja Accord) that calls for a complete cease-fire, disengagement, disarmament and the holding of national elections. It is too early to determine if this agreement will lead to a cessation of all fighting and whether travel to locations outside Monrovia will be safe. In June, factional fighters departed Monrovia and ECOMOG returned. Roads outside of Monrovia are generally not safe due to robbers and unruly elements of the warring factions. Despite ECOMOG enforcement of a 10:00 p.m. to dawn curfew in Monrovia, criminal activity, such as burglary and shootings, increases after dark. U.S. Embassy employees are not permitted to travel outside of Monrovia. Any person who leaves Monrovia should return by dusk. Foreign relief workers who operate outside Monrovia, do so only with the consent of those warring factions locally in control. Roberts International Airport, about 35 miles outside of Monrovia, is closed. Limited daytime service via Monrovia's Spriggs Payne Airfield exists to Freetown, Sierra Leone and Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire. No major international carriers serve Monrovia. Overland routes to Sierra Leone are closed to travel, while travel to Cote d'Ivoire, although reported open on some routes, is subject to strict border control by Ivoirian authorities. Travelers should be aware that security at Spriggs Payne Airfield is extremely lax; neither luggage nor passengers are subject to any formal security checks prior to boarding. Medical Facilities: Medical facilities are poor. Hospitals have been looted and are barely able to provide services. Medicines are scarce in most areas. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health 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 and medical evacuation coverage has proven useful. For additional health information, travelers can contact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's international travelers hotline at (404) 332-4559, Internet: http://www.cdc.gov. Information on Crime: Monrovia's crime rate is extremely high. Foreigners, including U.S. citizens, have been targets of street crime and violent robbery in their homes. Residential armed break-ins are common. The police are ill-equipped and largely incapable of providing effective protection. 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. Country Infrastructure: Lodging, water, electricity, fuel, transportation and telephone services are unevenly available in Liberia. They are nonexistent or severely limited in rural areas. Commercial power is not available in Monrovia. Few facilities and homes have telephones; disruption of telephone services is common. Mail delivery and commercial air courier services are not available. 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 strict and convicted offenders can expect jail sentences and fines. Embassy Location/Registration: U.S. citizens are encouraged to register and to obtain updated information on travel and security at the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy at 111 United Nations Drive, Mamba Point, Monrovia, Liberia. Telephone: (231) 226-370, FAX: (231) 226-148. As there is no Liberian mail service, U.S. citizens in the U.S. are advised to address letters to the American Embassy Monrovia, Consular Section, Washington, D.C. 20521-8800. Consular assistance in Liberia is available only in Monrovia. No. 96-182 This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated October 24, 1995, to update the Travel Warning and sections on areas of instability, country infrastructure, and the U. S. Embassy location. ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- 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. 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