Washington. The US Department of State has issued a Level-4 travel advisory for its citizens for 23 countries. It has been advised not to travel to the countries included in this category. Level-4 is considered the most serious warning of the US State Department. This includes many countries including Iran, Russia, Ukraine, Afghanistan and North Korea.
What are the four levels of travel advisory?
The US State Department divides travel warnings into four levels. Their objective is to inform citizens about the security situation of different countries and the possible risks present there.
Level-1: Take normal precautions.
Level-2: Be more careful.
Level-3: Reconsider the decision to travel.
Level-4: Do not travel.
Level-4 means that the security situation in the concerned country is serious. There may be armed conflict, terrorism, violent crime, kidnapping or other major threats. In such circumstances, it may be difficult for American citizens to deal with the emergency. Services from U.S. embassies in the respective countries may also be limited or unavailable.
These 23 countries were kept in level-4
According to the list of the US State Department, there are 23 countries included in the Level-4 category—
afghanistan
belarus
Burkina Faso
myanmar
Central African Republic
Chad
Democratic Republic of Congo
haiti
iran
Iraq
lebanon
Libya
gardener
niger
north korea
Russia
somalia
South Sudan
Sudan
Syria
uganda
ukraine
yemen
Why is such a warning issued?
The US State Department issues travel advisories taking into account the security situation in a country, armed conflict, terrorist activities, crime, and potential threats to civilians.
A major reason for Level-4 warning may also be that it may be difficult to provide emergency assistance to American citizens in the country concerned. US embassies in many places may be closed or their services may be limited. In such a situation, it becomes challenging to provide help to citizens trapped in crisis.
The US government has advised its citizens to avoid traveling to countries included in the Level-4 category and to consult the official travel advisory of the State Department before planning any travel.