From: owner-travel-advisories Subject: NEW TRAVEL INFO -- Sierra Leone Newsgroups: wstd.travel.advisories Date: Mon, 28 Dec 1998 21:56:36 GMT Organization: The World @ Software Tool & Die Xref: world wstd.travel.advisories:2034 Path: world!bzs Message-ID: <199812281700_MC2-64D7-870E@compuserve.com> Sender: "U.S. Department of State" <76702.1202@compuserve.com> Approved: usenet@world.std.com Distribution: wstd Precedence: bulk Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-List-Info: LN=travel-advisories WHOM=76702.1202@compuserve.com Content-Disposition: inline Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Mime-Version: 1.0 Lines: 170 STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - Sierra Leone ============================================================ Sierra Leone - Travel Warning December 24, 1998 The Department of State warns U.S. citizens against travel to Sierra Leone. Travel within Sierra Leone should be considered extremely hazardous due to possible attacks by deposed military and rebel forces. The Department of State has ordered the departure of all U.S. Government personnel and suspended operations at the U.S. Embassy in Freetown. U.S. citizens in Sierra Leone should review their own personal security situations and are urged to depart the country. For further information on travel to Sierra Leone see the Department of State's Consular Information Sheet on Sierra Leone. This replaces the Travel Warning dated July 14, 1998 to reflect the ordered departure of U.S. Government personnel and the suspension of Embassy operations. Sierra Leone - Consular Information Sheet July 15, 1998 Warning: The Department of State warns U.S. citizens to defer travel to Sierra Leone. Travel within Sierra Leone should be considered extremely hazardous due to possible attacks by deposed military and rebel forces. Country Description: Sierra Leone is a developing country which has few facilities for tourism and poses considerable risks for travelers. In March 1998, the elected government of Sierra Leone was restored by West African Peacekeeping Forces, following a military coup in May 1997. Fighting and looting during the coup and during the restoration of the government caused extensive damage to cities and villages. Military operations to combat rogue military and rebels and common banditry affect large parts of the country outside the western peninsula which includes the capital, Freetown. All cities have a curfew from midnight to 6:00 A.M. No American or European air carriers fly into Lungi International Airport. Some regional airlines service the airport. The government ferryboat service from the airport peninsula to Freetown operates only at high-tide. Small planes are available in connection with most major regional flights to fly passengers from the International Airport to the small airport near Freetown. Travel by road from the airport to Freetown takes three hours and may be dangerous due to possible rebel activity. U.S. citizens are encouraged to be alert and to avoid large gatherings. Entry Requirements: A passport and visa are required and the visa must be obtained in advance. Travelers should obtain the latest information and details from the Embassy of Sierra Leone, 1701 19th Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20009; telephone (202) 939-9261. Overseas inquiries should be made to the nearest Sierra Leonean embassy or consulate. Areas of Instability: While peacekeeping forces control Freetown and the four major cities of the country, areas outside the cities are subject to attacks by deposed military and rebel forces. Travel outside Freetown is extremely hazardous. Rebels and rogue military have taken international workers hostage. Because many Sierra Leoneans do not speak English, it can be difficult for a foreigner to communicate his or her identity. Travelers may also encounter difficulties at the numerous roadblocks and checkpoints outside Freetown. Medical Facilities: Medical facilities fall critically short of U.S. standards. Persons with medical conditions that may require treatment or medications are discouraged from traveling to Sierra Leone. Medicines are in short supply, sterility of equipment is questionable, and treatment is unreliable. Many primary health care workers, especially in rural areas, lack professional training. Instances of misdiagnosis, improper treatment and administration of improper drugs have been reported. International air carriers are reluctant to assist with medical evacuations from Sierra Leone. Private charter evacuations, costing thousands of dollars, may be necessary. Doctors and hospitals usually require immediate cash payment for health services. U.S. medical insurance is not valid in Sierra Leone. The Medicare/Medicaid program does not provide for payment of medical services outside the United States. Travelers should obtain supplemental medical insurance with specific overseas and medical evacuation coverage. For additional health information, travelers can contact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's International Travelers toll-free hotline at 1-888-232-3228, via the CDC autofax service at 1-888-232-3299, or via the CDC Internet home page at http://www.cdc.gov. Crime Information: Petty crime and theft of wallets and passports are common. Requests for payments at military roadblocks are common. Robberies and burglaries of residences are frequent. The loss or theft of a U.S. passport abroad should be reported immediately 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 promoting 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, DC 20402, via the Internet at http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs, or via the Bureau of Consular Affairs home page at http://travel.state.gov. Road Conditions: Most roads in Freetown are paved but have potholes; unpaved side streets are generally navigable. Most roads outside Freetown are unpaved but passable for a 4-wheel drive vehicle. Public transport (bus or group taxi) is erratic, sometimes unsafe, and generally not recommended. Photography Restrictions: Permission is required to photograph government buildings, airports, bridges, or official-looking buildings. Areas forbidding photography are not marked or defined. Individuals sometimes do not want to be photographed for religious reasons or may want to be paid for posing. Photographers should ask permission before taking pictures. Dual Nationality: Dual nationals who are bearers of Sierra Leone passports are required to present proof of payment of taxes before being granted clearance for departure from Sierra Leone. The ability of the U.S. Embassy to assist persons of dual nationality may be extremely limited. Aviation Safety Oversight: As there is no direct commercial air service by local carriers at present, or economic authority to operate such service, between the U.S. and Sierra Leone, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not assessed Sierra Leone's Civil Aviation Authority for compliance with international aviation safety standards for oversight of Sierra Leone's air carrier operations. For further information, travelers may contact the Department of Transportation within the U.S. at 1-800-322-7873, or visit the FAA Internet home page at http://www.faa.gov/avr/iasa.htm. The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) separately assesses some foreign air carriers for suitability as official providers of air services. For information regarding the DOD policy on specific carriers, travelers may contact the Pentagon at (703) 697-7288. 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 and fines. Embassy Location/Registration: The U.S. Embassy in Freetown resumed operations on June 22, 1998 following the May 1997 coup. U.S. citizens are encouraged to register with the Consular Section of the Embassy in Freetown at the corner of Walpole and Siaka Stevens Streets, and to obtain updated information on travel and security in Sierra Leone. The telephone number is (232)(22) 226-481, and the fax number is (232)(22) 225-471. Consular services for U.S. citizens will be limited to areas under government control. Embassy personnel constraints will also limit the assistance which can be provided in those areas. No. 98-100 This replaces the Consular Information Sheet of February 7, 1996 to add Travel/Road Conditions, and to update the Travel Warning and sections on Country Descriptions, Entry Requirements, Areas of Instability, Medical Facilities, Crime, and Embassy Location/Registration. ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- 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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