The United States issued a Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisory for more than 20 countries, warning Americans to avoid travel to destinations deemed extremely dangerous due to conflict, instability and limited
US ability to provide assistance.
Under the US State Department’s four-tier travel advisory system, Level 4 is the most severe classification. It is reserved for countries where local conditions pose serious risks to life and safety or where the US government has little or no capacity to help citizens in an emergency. Americans are advised not to travel to these locations for any reason.
According to the advisory, countries currently designated Level 4 include Afghanistan, Belarus, Burkina Faso, Burma, the Central African Republic, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Niger, North Korea, Russia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, Venezuela and Yemen.
The US State Department assigns Level 4 status based on factors such as armed conflict, terrorism, widespread crime, civil unrest, kidnapping risks and the collapse of basic services. In several of the listed countries, US diplomatic presence is minimal or nonexistent, further limiting consular support.
The advisory applies both to Americans planning travel and to those already in the affected countries. US citizens currently in Level 4 destinations are urged to leave if it can be done safely.
Travel advisories are reviewed regularly and updated when conditions change. US officials urged travellers to check the latest advisory status before making international travel plans and to remain aware that conditions in high-risk countries can deteriorate rapidly.
