SITREP, January 2025

The Month in Review

America

Puerto Rico: Puerto Rico suffered an island-wide power outage early in the morning on New Year’s Eve, plunging millions of people into darkness as officials grappled with a faulty power grid. Puerto Rico has restored electricity to most areas. However, travelers should remain prepared for potential disruptions and exercise caution as the fragile power grid stabilizes.

New Orleans: At least 15 people were killed and 30 injured after an attacker intentionally drove a pickup truck through a crowd on New Orleans’ Bourbon Street during New Year’s Eve festivities. Officials are describing the attack as an act of terrorism. Travelers to the USA should remain vigilant, stay informed about local conditions, expect heightened security measures, and exercise caution in crowded areas and during public events.

Los Angeles: Multiple wildfires are currently raging across Los Angeles County, with the Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire being the largest, having burned over 30,000 acres combined and destroyed thousands of structures. The fires, fueled by strong Santa Ana winds, have forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents and claimed at least 16 lives. Travelers to the Los Angeles area should be aware of potential flight disruptions, road closures, and poor air quality.

Asia

Kazakhstan: Azerbaijan Airlines’ Embraer 190 crashed in Kazakhstan, killing 38 passengers and injuring 29 survivors, after reversing course from its intended route from Baku to Grozny and attempting to land in Aktau. Azerbaijani and US officials suggest that the Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash was caused by weapons fire. At the same time, Russia’s aviation chief mentioned a Ukrainian drone attack in Chechnya at the time but did not confirm if Russian air defenses were responsible.

Yemen: A new round of Israeli airstrikes in Yemen on the 26th of December targeted the Houthi rebel-held capital and multiple ports, while the World Health Organization’s director-general said the bombardment occurred nearby as he prepared to board a flight in Sanaa, with a crew member injured. At least three people were later reported killed and dozens wounded in the airport strike. Travelers to Yemen should be aware of the extremely high risk of airstrikes, civil unrest, kidnapping, armed conflict, and landmines, with all governments strongly advising against travel due to the volatile security situation.

South Korea: At least 179 people were killed on the 29th of December when a commercial airliner crashed on landing at South Korea’s Muan airport. Two people, both crew members working for operator Jeju Air, survived what is believed to be the worst air disaster in the country’s history. Following the crash, Jeju Air experienced another incident where a flight had to return to Seoul due to a landing gear issue.

Europe

Finland: On the 26th of December, Finland seized a ship carrying oil for Russia about the recent cutting of an undersea cable connecting electricity to Estonia as concern mounts over ships disrupting power and gas lines in European waters. The vessel is suspected of rupturing the Estlink 2 power transmission cable connecting electricity between Estonia and Finland. Still, police said that the investigation is looking at the incident as “aggravated criminal mischief.”

Russia: Russia, on the 1st of January, shut down its oldest gas route to Europe, which runs through Ukraine, after a transit deal expired in the early hours of January 1, 2025, without an accord extension. Moscow’s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine accelerated Europe’s efforts to end its dependence on Russian gas, an endeavor hailed by Kyiv. Travelers to Europe should be prepared for potential increases in energy costs and be aware of regional variations in energy supply, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe.

Italy: Italy is experiencing protests over a controversial Security Bill, which has returned to the Senate for debate. The bill proposes stricter penalties for property damage during demonstrations and extended urban banning orders for certain offenders. Travelers to Italy should remain vigilant, avoid protest areas, stay informed about potential transportation disruptions, and be prepared for increased security measures due to ongoing demonstrations.

Africa

DRC: The M23 rebel group, allegedly backed by Rwanda, captured Goma, the largest city in eastern DRC, on January 27, 2025. The conflict has displaced over 400,000 people since January 2025, creating a severe humanitarian crisis. International peacekeepers have suffered casualties, and the East African Community has called for an emergency summit.

Mozambique: At least 6,000 prisoners escaped from a high-security facility in the last week of December, Mozambique’s police chief said on the 26th of December. Thirty-three inmates were killed and 15 others injured in confrontations with security guards. Travelers to Mozambique should exercise heightened caution due to increased security measures, potential civil unrest, and a possible rise in criminal activities following the escape of over 6,000 prisoners.

Chad: An attack on Chad’s presidential palace left 18 assailants dead and six in custody, with one soldier killed and three wounded, state media reported. The attack occurred while Chadian President Mahamat Deby Itno was inside the palace, but authorities said the situation was quickly brought under control.

Somalia: Somali security forces in Puntland, northern Somalia, have launched a counterinsurgency offensive against the Islamic State Somalia Province (ISS). While the offensive has degraded ISS capabilities, the group will likely reconstitute itself if its revenue streams are not significantly impacted. ISS continues to act as a key logistics node for the Islamic State global network, hosting the regional East Africa IS office, al Karrar.

Sources: https://www.stern.de/panorama/weltgeschehen/brasilien--zehn-tote-nach-flugzeugabsturz-in-wohngebiet-35333222.html / https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-lebanon-hezbollah-iran-news-12-26-2024-2e8c33648410c2da94ae7d0d73c0b1a1 / https://thehill.com/policy/defense/5056755-finland-russia-undersea-cable-cut/ / https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20250101-russia-halts-gas-exports-to-europe-via-ukraine-kyiv-hails-historic-event / https://apnews.com/article/chad-presidential-palace-deadly-97638ecd7ad4e55a27955ad705f31bdb / https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/latest/what-know-about-intensified-conflict-dr-congo / https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/security-bill-returns-to-senate-as-protests-shake-italy/?t / https://understandingwar.org/backgrounder/africa-file-january-24-2025-russia-continues-pivot-libya-and-mali-saf-advances-khartoum?t

Cyber-Security While Traveling

Protect your digital security when traveling by using a trusted VPN on public Wi-Fi. Avoid public USB charging stations, as they may be unsafe, better always have a powerbank with you. Always keep your devices close and consider using privacy screens to block prying eyes. Secure all your devices with strong passwords, not just simple patterns. Regularly back up your devices or use cloud sync. Protect your accounts with a password manager and two-factor authentication, and make sure you have a backup plan if you lose access to your device.

By maintaining good “digital hygiene,” you significantly reduce the risk of cyber threats compromising your personal information and potentially disrupting your (travel) plans. Remember, nowadays a secure digital presence is as important as physical safety when exploring the world.

Community Q and A

According to the Global Peace Index 2024, the five most peaceful countries regarding safety and security are Singapore, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Finland. The least safe countries are South Sudan, Yemen, Afghanistan, Colombia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Over the past year, peace has declined in eight of the world’s nine regions. While Russia and Ukraine saw a decline in peace, Eurasia was the only region to see an average improvement over the past year. Of all the regions, North America saw the most significant average decline in peace, with notable declines in both the US and Canada.

Overall, we unfortunately have to say that the world is getting more and more dangerous. But there is no need to panic: You can still travel safely if you know how!

Global Peace Index 2024: https://www.visionofhumanity.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/GPI-2024-web.pdf.

Have a question? Reply to this email and we might feature it in next month's Q&A!

From the Team

The Safety Huddle No. 12 is the podcast's first German episode: Las Vegas SWAT officer Allyn Goodrich on the mental health of police officers, a subject the profession still handles quietly.

Announced for the end of the month: Moritz Schramm, founder of CrisisFit, on crisis management inside companies.