From: owner-travel-advisories Subject: NEW TRAVEL INFO -- Togo Newsgroups: wstd.travel.advisories Date: Mon, 13 Apr 1998 18:21:53 GMT Organization: The World @ Software Tool & Die Xref: world wstd.travel.advisories:1684 Path: world!root Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Message-ID: <199804131424_MC2-39BC-113D@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: 147 STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - Togo ============================================================ Togo - Public Announcement April 10, 1998 The Department of State has authorized the departure of mission dependents from the U.S. Embassy in Lome, Togo, until the electrical power situation stabilizes in Lome. Since February 1998, Lome has experienced acute power outages lasting at times for more than 24 hours. Besides security concerns, the long periods without electricity pose a growing public health risk as restaurants, hotels and grocery stores experience food spoilage. Local telephone communication is erratic. There is no emergency medical care. Travelers may face delays at the international airport. The U.S. Embassy will remain open, but the availability of some services may be limited. For further information on travel to Togo, please consult the Department's latest Consular Information Sheet for Togo. This Public Announcement expires July 10, 1998. Togo - Consular Information Sheet April 13, 1998 Country Description: Togo is a small west African nation with a developing economy. French is the official language. Tourism facilities are limited, especially outside Lome, the capital city. Entry Requirements: A passport and visa are required. Proof of yellow fever immunization is required. Travelers should obtain the latest information and details from the Embassy of the Republic of Togo, 2208 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008. The telephone number is (202) 234-4212. Overseas inquiries should be made at the nearest Togo embassy or consulate. Areas of Instability: Togo has experienced periodic violence and strikes over the past five years. Although the situation has been calm for the past year, the potential exists for unsettled political conditions, particularly with the presidential election scheduled for June 1998. U.S. citizens should avoid the downtown area of Lome during political demonstrations and maintain security awareness at all times. Power Shortages: Since February 1998, Lome has been experiencing acute power outages lasting at times more than 24 hours. There is no short-term relief for this crisis. The long periods without electricity pose a growing public health and safety risk as restaurants, hotels and grocery stores experience food spoilage, and local telephone communication is erratic. Travelers may face delays at the international airport. Medical Facilities: Medical facilities in Togo are limited. There is no emergency medical care. Some medicines are available through local pharmacies. Doctors and hospitals often 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. Travelers have found supplemental medical insurance with specific overseas and medical evacuation coverage to be useful. For additional health information, travelers can contact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's international travelers hotline at (888) 232-3228, or the toll-free CDC autofax at (888) 232-3299, or the Internet: http://www.cdc.gov. Information on Crime: Pickpocketing and theft are common, especially along the beach and in the market areas of Lome. There has been an increase in the reports of carjacking. Due to chronic and lengthy power outages, much of Lome is dark at night, thereby increasing opportunities for crime. Business fraud stemming from Nigerian scam operations target Americans and pose dangers of financial loss and physical harm. Persons contemplating business deals in Togo with individuals promoting investment in Nigeria, especially the Central Bank of Nigeria or the Nigerian National Petroleum Company, are strongly urged to check with the U.S. Department of Commerce or the U.S. Department of State before providing any information, making financial commitments, or traveling to Togo. 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. Drug Penalties: U.S. citizens are subject to the laws of the country in which they are traveling. In Togo, the penalties for possession, use or trafficking in illegal drugs are strictly enforced. Convicted offenders can expect jail sentences and fines. Road Safety/Automobile Travel: Intercity roads are generally paved; however, conditions are poor and dangerous with pedestrians and livestock often on the roadways. Overland travel off the main network of roads generally requires a four-wheel drive vehicle. Poorly marked armed checkpoints, often manned by undisciplined soldiers, exist throughout the country. Nighttime travel on unfamiliar roads is dangerous. Banditry, ranging from extortion by security forces to armed robbery, has been reported on all major intercity highways, including the Lome-Cotonou coastal highway. Credit Card Usage: Not all major credit cards are accepted in Togo. Travelers planning to use credit cards should know which cards are accepted before they commit to any transaction. Aviation Safety Oversight: As there is no direct commercial air service at present, nor economic authority to operate such service, between the United States and Togo, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not assessed Togo's civil aviation authority for compliance with international aviation safety standards for oversight of Togo's air carrier operations. For further information, travelers may contact the Department of Transportation within the United States at telephone 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 telephone 1-703-697-7288. Embassy Location/Registration: U.S. citizens are encouraged to register with the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy at the intersection of Rue Pelletier Caventou and Rue Vauban, Lome, telephone (228) 21-29-91, and to obtain updated information on travel and security in Togo. The U.S. Embassy's fax is (228) 21-79-52 and its mailing address is B.P. 852, Lome. No. 98-37 This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated June 20, 1997 to update information on country description, areas of instability, crime and to provide information on power outages. ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- 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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