Travel updates for October 1, 2004 as issued by the Consular Affairs Section of Foreign Affairs Canada. Current Issues: An entry concerning Ramadan - The Islamic holy month (general) was added. The Islamic holy month of Ramadan will begin on or about October 16 and last 30 days. In addition to the Middle East, there are large Islamic populations in Africa, Burma (Myanmar), Central Asia, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Pakistan, Russia, and Turkey. Canadians should respect Islamic customs, adhere to local laws related to this month of fasting, exercise caution, and avoid large crowds. An items entitled "Reminder of Warning Against Travel to Iraq" (security) was amended. Canadians are reminded that they should not travel to Iraq under any circumstances and that all Canadians in Iraq, including humanitarian aid workers, should leave. There is no Canadian Embassy in Iraq at this time, and the Government of Canada has an extremely limited capacity to provide assistance to Canadian citizens in distress in Iraq. Those who choose to remain despite this warning should maintain a high level of vigilance, avoid crowds and demonstrations, monitor local developments and news broadcasts, and review their security arrangements carefully. The security situation in Iraq is dangerous and unpredictable. The threat to foreigners, including Canadians, is high and has increased since the transfer of power from the Coalition Provisional Authority to the new Government of Iraq in June 2004. There is a growing risk of foreigners being kidnapped in Iraq, with at least four Canadian citizens among recent hostages. Kidnappings have occurred in Baghdad, Basra, Fallujah, Kufa, Al Ramadi, Najaf, Nasiriya, the Baghdad-Amman highway, and elsewhere. More than 140 foreigners, including journalists, humanitarian workers, contractors, and soldiers, have been abducted in recent months. Many of the hostages have been killed or are still missing. Attacks resulting in numerous fatalities are frequent in Baghdad and elsewhere. The list of targets includes a growing range of institutions and individuals, including both coalition and Iraqi military forces, Iraqi government ministries, and personnel of the United Nations, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), foreign embassies, and non-governmental organizations, as well as both Iraqi and foreign police and civilians. There is also a danger of attacks on religious buildings, restaurants, and other public places. There are reports of individuals being targeted because they are Christian, and some churches have been bombed. In addition, there is a high frequency of smaller-scale attacks, undertaken in particular with convoy ambushes, small-arms fire, rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). There have been RPG attacks on a number of Baghdad hotels where foreigners may be staying. A sharp increase in the number and sophistication of attacks involving IEDs, most targeting U.S. military convoys, civilian convoys, and Iraqi police stations, has occurred throughout Iraq. IEDs are camouflaged bombs that are placed on main roads and detonated by remote control, often followed by an ambush on disabled vehicles and their passengers. A Canadian citizen was recently killed in such an attack. The possibility of further attacks puts Canadians at risk, both in Baghdad and elsewhere in Iraq. For further information on the security situation in Iraq, see Foreign Affairs Canada's Travel Report. An entry concerning Hurricane Jeanne (Natural Disasters) was removed. The following Travel Report(s) were updated: Bahamas China - Hong Kong China - Macao Dominican Republic Haiti Lebanon Peru Singapore United States Country Travel Reports may be updated after 3 p.m. (EDT), so if you want to ensure that you have the most up-to-date information, please visit our Travel Updates page. - 30 - For more information, please contact : voyage@dfait-maeci.gc.ca Foreign Affairs Canada 125 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0G2 Tel.: 1 800 267-6788 (in Canada and the U.S.) or (613) 944-6788 Fax: (613) 996-2157 Internet: www.voyage.gc.ca
