US Tags 35 Countries With New Kidnapping Travel Risk Indicator - State Department

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 10th April, 2019) The US State Department in a press release said it has introduced a new risk indicator identifying 35 countries, including Russia and eastern Ukraine, where Americans are at risk of getting kindapped.

"An April 9, 2019, the Department of State introduced a new risk indicator to our public Travel Advisories in order to communicate more clearly to US citizens the risks of kidnapping and hostage taking by criminal and terrorist actors," the release said on Tuesday. "The Travel Advisories for 35 countries have been updated to include a 'K' indicator for the risk of kidnapping and/or hostage taking."

The list of countries considered a risk for US citizens of kidnapping includes Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Kenya, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Mali, Mexico, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Russia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine (in Russian-controlled eastern Ukraine), Venezuela, and Yemen.

The State Department issues travel advisories for every country in the world based on risk indicators like crime, terrorism, civil unrest, disasters, and other possible risks, the release said.