UN warns workers: don't land at Johannesburg airport at night...

June 13 2008 - The United Nations is warning its personnel in South Africa not to arrive at the Johannesburg International Airport at night - it's just too dangerous. They also should never use their cellphones in the streets of South Africa because of the high level of gun-crime.

This is the UN's latest travel alert about South Africa, issued and updated to its personnel each month

South Africa now on same danger-level as Sudan:

* South African employees told Beeld newspaper yesterday that they were 'ashamed of their country, which has now been dropped to the same alert-level as conflict-driven countries such as the Sudan'.

The UN indicates its warnings in phases from zero to five.

* Phase five is the phase where UN-workers are removed from a country for their own safety.

Various regions of South Africa have been designated various phases.

* The entire country is in the Phase One alert zone - but specific regions are indicated with Phase Two, such as the Johannesburg inner-city, Hillbrow, the informal settlements of Mamelodi, Mooikloof, Durban, the Cape Flats, Brits, Sasolburg, Knysna and Jeffrey's Bay.

The alert warns that there are 'xenophobic attacks against foreigners in informal settlements. All UN personnel must stay away from these regions and coordinate trips with the UN-offices in SA.

"Violent crime on the street with firearms affects all UN personnel in SA. Visitors are more defenceless against this threat because their awareness and preparations are inefficient in this respect'. "The Gauteng - Johannesburg and Pretoria -- areas are the worse threat areas and a marked increase in armed robberies is being experienced. In most cases, victims are ambushed in their driveways or hotel lobbies with firearms, or robbed when they travel from the airport.'

* "Make advance travel arrangements and avoid arriving at the Johannesburg airport at night. * "Do not exchange foreign exchange at the airport and try and avoid giving out any personal information to anyone. * "When UN employees travel in a car or a taxi in SA, all their belongings must be placed out of sight on the floor or in the car-boot'.

US government: increase in violent attacks on foreigners"... The US government has also adjusted its travel warnings to its citizens, noting that there is 'an increase in violent attacks on foreigners, particularly refugees or immigrants from other African nations. American citizens in South Africa are urged to monitor media reports and to avoid areas where attacks may be likely to occur. This Travel Alert expires on July 1, 2008. "In recent weeks, South Africa has seen an increase in the frequency, size, and duration of "xenophobic" attacks directed at foreigners - particularly refugees or immigrants from other African nations. The most recent attacks started in the Johannesburg township of Alexandra but spread to other low income neighborhoods and informal settlements. "Several recent incidents of mob violence have taken place in other areas of Johannesburg including the Central Business District (CBD), Hillbrow, and Soweto.

* "An ... undetermined number of persons have been killed in these incidents and many more, including both targeted victims and bystanders, have been injured. * "So far, most violent incidents have taken place at night."

http://www.news24.com/Beeld/Suid-Afrika/0,,3-975_2339875,00.html

US travel warning: http://blog.preferredconsumer.com/consumer/travel-alertswarnings/

Now the fatcow is no more,it is not even a lean cow

It is a skeleton