From: owner-travel-advisories Subject: NEW TRAVEL INFO -- Sierra Leone Newsgroups: wstd.travel.advisories Date: Wed, 28 May 1997 18:00:41 GMT Organization: The World, Public Access Internet, Brookline, MA Xref: world wstd.travel.advisories:1347 Path: world!leao Message-ID: <970528180041_76702.1202_CHN26-1@CompuServe.COM> Precedence: bulk Sender: leao@world.std.com (daemons) Distribution: wstd Approved: usenet@world.std.com Lines: 151 STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - Sierra Leone ============================================================ Sierra Leone - Public Announcement May 28, 1997 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE Office of the Spokesman Because of the unsettled situation in Sierra Leone, as a result of the coup detat which occurred in the early morning hours of May 25, the Department of State has ordered a drawdown of United States Embassy non-essential personnel and dependents. Contingency plans for an emergency evacuation, should that prove necessary, are being developed. American citizens should monitor the American Embassy warden network and Voice of America broadcasts for further information and instructions. This announcement replaces the Public Announcement dated May 25th 1997, and expires on June 26, 1997. Sierra Leone - Travel Warning February 1, 1995 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 random and sporadic attacks by insurgents. Additional information may be found in the Department of State's Consular Information Sheet on Sierra Leone. No. 95-004 Sierra Leone - Consular Information Sheet February 7, 1996 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 random and sporadic attacks by insurgents. Country Description: Sierra Leone is a developing country which has few facilities for tourism and poses considerable risks for travelers. Military activity and banditry affect large parts of the country outside Freetown and the western peninsula. Telephone service is unreliable. Entry Requirements: A visa is required and must be obtained in advance from a Sierra Leonean Embassy or Consulate. Travelers should obtain the latest information and details from the Embassy of Sierra Leone, 1701 19th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20009, telephone (202) 939-9261. Overseas inquiries should be made to the nearest Sierra Leonean Embassy or Consulate. Areas of Instability: The random and unpredictable nature of military activity makes travel outside Freetown and the tourist areas of the western peninsula extremely hazardous. Since early 1995 there have been armed attacks on roads and villages in many parts of the country, with attacks as close as 40 miles outside Freetown. Foreigners traveling in rural areas and certain areas of Freetown are at risk from neighborhood patrols and committees on the lookout for suspicious strangers. Travelers in rural areas run the risk of being detained, injured or killed. 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 military checkpoints outside Freetown. The U.S. Embassy has warned Americans not to travel or reside outside Freetown unless directly involved in essential emergency relief work. Only two major European air carriers currently service Lungi Airport. The ferry service between the airport and Freetown is unreliable. In emergencies the overland route to the airport might be closed due to fighting. With national elections scheduled for February 26, 1996, there may be incidents which would lead to violence. U.S. citizens are encouraged to be especially alert, to avoid large gatherings and to remain in contact with the U.S. Embassy. Medical Facilities: Medical facilities fall far 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 often require immediate 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. Travelers have found that supplemental medical insurance with specific overseas and medical evacuation coverage has proven to be useful. For additional health information, travelers can contact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's international travelers hotline at (404) 332-4559. 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 also occur. 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 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. Curfew: Localized changes in the security situation in specific areas can lead, without warning, to imposition of a curfew. 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. Photography Restrictions: Permission is required to photograph government buildings, airports, bridges or official-looking buildings. Areas forbidding photography are not marked or defined. Dual Nationality: Dual nationals who are bearers of Sierra Leone passports are required to present proof of payment of taxes before being granted departure clearance from Sierra Leone. U.S. consular assistance to persons of dual nationality may be extremely limited. Embassy Location/Registration: U.S. citizens are encouraged to register with the Consular Section of the U.S. 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. U.S. consular services are limited to areas under government control; personnel constraints imposed on the U.S. Embassy limit the assistance which can be provided even in those areas. No. 96-013 This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated February 8, 1995, to revise the information on entry requirements and 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. 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