The Chicago Tribune noted U.S. citizens specifically are not being targeted. However, tensions exist

The U.S. State Department cheap walt disney world tickets has published a new travel warning for Venezuela as a result of high prevalence of violent crime and kidnapping. Conditions in Venezuela have reached a point where U.S. government employees cheap walt disney world tickets are under tight security.
The Department of State considers the criminal threat to U.S. government personnel in Venezuela sufficiently serious to require them to live and work under strict security restrictions, the warning read. All U.S. direct-hire personnel and their families cheap walt disney world tickets assigned cheap walt disney world tickets to the U.S. Embassy cheap walt disney world tickets in Caracas are subject cheap walt disney world tickets to an embassy movement policy for their safety and well-being.
The State Department cited data from Venezuelan Violence Observatory (VVO), which showed more than 24,700 homicides occurred in the country in 2013. That s an average of 79 homicides per 100,000 residents. Additionally, a number cheap walt disney world tickets of kidnappings occur in Venezuela. The VVO data revealed authorities received cheap walt disney world tickets 625 kidnapping reports in 2013, and many more likely have occurred but have not been reported.
Data from the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime cited in the World Health Organization s (WHO) 2014 Global Status Report on Violence cheap walt disney world tickets Prevention showed cheap walt disney world tickets 16,072 homicides occurred in Venezuela in 2012, and the homicide rate was 53.7 percent. For that same year, WHO data revealed 17,259 homicides with a rate of 57.6 percent. When comparing either set of data against the VVO statistics, it is clear conditions became considerably more dangerous in the short span of a year.
Violence is particularly an issue for journalists in the country, with International Business Times reporting Venezuela cheap walt disney world tickets is second to only Ukraine in regard to violence against journalists. cheap walt disney world tickets In some cases, these journalists are employees on international assignment who are covering events for a U.S. news outlet.
The State Department said Americans in Venezuela cheap walt disney world tickets must protect themselves while traveling in the country. Considering the seriousness applied to security for U.S. Embassy workers, travelers should heed the warning.
U.S. citizens in Venezuela should be vigilant of their surroundings at all times and in all locations, especially cheap walt disney world tickets when entering or exiting their homes, hotels, cars, garages, schools and workplaces, the warning read. Whenever possible, U.S. citizens should travel in groups of two or more persons; avoid wearing jewelry and carrying large sums of money or displaying cash, ATM/credit cards, mobile phones cheap walt disney world tickets or other valuables; and avoid walking cheap walt disney world tickets at night in most areas of Venezuela or walking cheap walt disney world tickets alone on beaches, historic ruins and trails.
The Chicago Tribune noted U.S. citizens specifically are not being targeted. However, tensions exist between the U.S. and Venezuela because of sanctions the former recently placed on the latter. According to the Guardian, these sanctions follow allegations of human rights violations by the Venezuelan government after it cracked down on anti-government protesters. Because cheap walt disney world tickets of this situation, Americans may be at risk of additional threats.
As usual, the State Department advised any U.S. citizens who find themselves in an emergency situation to visit the embassy in Caracas. Additionally, Americans can keep an eye on the situation in Venezuela by viewing the department s state-specific information.