- The new indicator, signaling a risk of kidnapping, has been added to the notices for 35 countries.
- Mexico, Haiti, and the Philippines are on the list.
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35 countries where the US State Department is warning Americans they could get kidnapped
The State Department this week announced a new risk indicator for its public travel advisories.
Kimberly Sue Endicott kidnapped victim Uganda
The US State Department announced this week it was adding a "K" indicator to its public travel advisories to let American travelers know where they could be at risk of getting kidnapped or taken hostage.
"The new 'K' indicator is part of our ongoing commitment to provide clear and comprehensive travel safety information to US citizens so they can make informed travel decisions," the department said .
The agency has four levels of travel that it uses to let Americans know what to expect in each country:
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- Exercise normal precautions
- Exercise increased caution
- Reconsider travel
- Do not travel
Currently, 14 countries are designated "do not travel", nearly all because of ongoing armed conflicts.
The new "K" indicator comes days after the kidnapping of US tourist Kimberly Sue Endicott and her guide, Jean Paul, in Uganda by captors who demanded a $500,000 ransom. The pair was rescued by Ugandan security forces last weekend.
Endicott and Jean Paul were abducted near Uganda's border with Congo. Since then, the State Department has added the "K" indicator to the travel advisories for those two countries and 33 others, all of which we've rounded up here.
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Here's a map of the 35 countries on the list:
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While some countries on this list are classified level one or two overall, many have areas within them where there is a higher chance of risks like kidnapping, crime, civil unrest, and terrorism.
Afghanistan Level 4: Do not travel
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Reuters
The State Department warns of crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, and armed conflict.
Algeria Level 2: Exercise increased caution
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Reuters
The State Department warns of terrorism and kidnapping in the Sahara Desert.
Angola Level 1: Exercise normal precautions
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The State Department warns of crime and kidnapping in urban areas.
Bangladesh Level 2: Exercise increased caution
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Reuters
The State Department warns of crime, terrorism, and kidnapping in Southeast Bangladesh, including the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
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Burkina Faso Level 3: Reconsider travel
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The State Department warns of terrorism and kidnapping.
"Terrorist groups continue plotting attacks and kidnappings in Burkina Faso and may conduct attacks anywhere with no warning," the advisory reads . "Targets could include hotels, restaurants, police stations, customs offices, areas at or near mining sites, military posts, and schools."
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Cameroon Level 2: Exercise increased caution
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The State Department warns of crime and kidnapping in the north, northwest, and southwest regions, and parts of east and Adamawa regions. The agency warns of terrorism in the far north region and armed conflict in the northwest and southwest regions.
Central American Republic Level 4: Do not travel
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AP Photo/Jerome Delay
The Central African Republic government and 14 armed groups reached a peace deal after their first-ever direct dialogue aimed at ending years of conflict, the UN and African Union announced on February 2, 2019.
Still, the State Department warns of crime,civil unrest, and kidnapping.
Colombia Level 2: Exercise increased caution
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The State Department warns of crime, terrorism, and kidnapping throughout the country, and says Americans should not travel to Arauca, Cauca (except Popayan), Choc (except Nuqu), Nario, and Norte de Santander (except Cucuta) due to crime and terrorism.
Democratic Republic of the Congo Level 3: Reconsider travel
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The State Department warns of crime and civil unrest throughout the country, and says Americans should not travel toNorth Kivu and Ituri provinces due to crime, Ebola, and kidnapping. The advisory also warns of armed conflict in eastern DRC and the three Kasai provinces.
Ethiopia Level 2: Exercise increased caution
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Reuters
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The State Department warns of civil unrest and communications disruptions, as well as civil unrest, terrorism, kidnapping, and landmines in the Somali Regional State.
Haiti Level 4: Do not travel
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Associated Press
The State Department warns of crime,civil unrest, and kidnapping.
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Iran Level 4: Do not travel
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The State Department warns of kidnapping, arrest, detention of US citizens.
Iraq Level 4: Do not travel
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REUTERS/Abdullah Rashid
The State Department warns of terrorism, kidnapping,andarmed conflict.
Kenya Level 2: Exercise increased caution
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Khalil Senosi/AP
The US State Department warns of crime, terrorism and kidnapping.
Lebanon Level 3: Reconsider travel
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The State Department warns of crime, terrorism, kidnapping, and armed conflict.
Libya Level 4: Do not travel
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The State Department warns of crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, and armed conflict.
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Malaysia Level 1: Exercise normal precautions
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REUTERS/Angie Teo
The State Department warns of kidnapping in the eastern area of Sabah State.
Mali Level 4: Do not travel
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Reuters
The State Department warns of crime, terrorism, and kidnapping.
Mexico Level 2: Exercise increased caution
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REUTERS/Carlos Jasso
The State Department warns of crime and kidnapping.
"Violent crime, such as homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery, is widespread," the advisory reads. "The US government has limited ability to provide emergency services to US citizens in many areas of Mexico as travel by US government employees to these areas is prohibited or significantly restricted."
The government recommends Americans don't travel to the states of Colima, Guerrero, Michoacn, Sinaloa, and Tamaulipas due to crime.
The advisory warns that Tamaulipas state is particularly dangerous:
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"Violent crime, such as murder, armed robbery, carjacking, kidnapping, extortion, and sexual assault, is common. Gang activity, including gun battles and blockades, is widespread. Armed criminal groups target public and private passenger buses as well as private automobiles traveling through Tamaulipas, often taking passengers hostage and demanding ransom payments. Federal and state security forces have limited capability to respond to violence in many parts of the state."
Niger Level 3: Reconsider travel
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Reuters/Joe Penney
The State Department warns of violent crime,terrorism,andkidnapping.
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Nigeria Level 3: Reconsider travel
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Associated Press
The State Department warns of crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, and piracy, throughout the country, with particular risk of terrorism in the Borno and Yobe states and the northern Adamawa state.
Pakistan Level 3: Reconsider travel
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The State Department warns of terrorism throughout the country, with particular risk of kidnapping in theBalochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces, including the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas. The Azad Kashmir area also has the potential for armed conflict.
Papua New Guinea Level 2: Exercise increased caution
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AP Photo/Aaron Favila
The State Department warns of crime, civil unrest, a polio outbreak,theaftermath of an earthquake,andkidnapping.
Philippines Level 2: Exercise increased caution
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Thomson Reuters
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The State Department warns of crime, terrorism, civil unrest, a measles outbreak, and kidnapping, with higher risks in the Sulu Archipelago and Mindanao.
Russia Level 2: Exercise increased caution
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AP Photo/Dmitry Serebryakov
The State Department warns of terrorism, harassment, and the "arbitrary enforcement of local laws" throughout Russia. The government advises Americans to avoid the north Caucasus, including Chechnya and Mount Elbrus, due to terrorism, kidnapping, and risk of civil unrest, and Crimea "due to Russias occupation of the Ukrainian territory and abuses by its occupying authorities."
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Somalia Level 4: Do not travel
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REUTERS/Feisal Omar
The State Department warns of crime, terrorism, kidnapping and piracy.
South Sudan Level 4: Do not travel
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Reuters
The State Department warns of crime, kidnapping,andarmed conflict.
Sudan Level 3: Reconsider travel
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Reuters
The State Department warns of crime,terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, and armed conflict.
Syria Level 4: do not travel
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REUTERS/ Rodi Said
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The State Department warns of terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping,andarmed conflict.
Trinidad and Tobago Level 2: Exercise increased caution
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The State Department warns of crime, terrorism,andkidnapping.
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Turkey Level 3: Reconsider travel
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Associated Press
The State Department warns of terrorism and arbitrary detentions, with higher risk of kidnapping near the Syrian and Iraq borders.
Uganda Level 2: Exercise increased caution
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Thomson Reuters
The State Department warns ofcrimeandkidnapping.
"Violent crime, such as armed robbery, home invasion, kidnapping, and sexual assault, is common, especially in larger cities including Kampala and Entebbe," the advisory reads. "Local police lack the resources to respond effectively to serious crime."
Ukraine Level 2: Exercise increased caution
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Thomson Reuters
The State Department warns of crime, civil unrest, and violence during national elections.
The government doesn't recommend travel toCrimea "due to arbitrary detentions and other abuses by Russian occupation authorities," or to the eastern parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, due to armed conflict and kidnapping.
Venezuela Level 4: Do not travel
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Reuters
The State Department warns of crime, civil unrest, poor health infrastructure, kidnapping, and the arbitrary arrest and detention of US citizens.
Yemen Level 4: Do not travel
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Reuters
The State Department warns of terrorism, civil unrest, health risks, kidnapping, and armed conflict.
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