Travel Alert

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Bureau of Consular Affairs
________________________________________
This information is current as of today, Sun May 02 11:13:25 2010.
Mozambique

April 30, 2010

The Department of State alerts U.S. citizens to the lack of communications available in central and northern Mozambique due to a severed fiber optic cable. The Embassy's ability to communicate with and assist U.S. citizens in those areas, even in an emergency, may be severely limited.  This Travel Alert expires on May 31, 2010.

The U.S. Embassy in Mozambique has received reports from Telecomunicacoes de Mocambique (TDM) that the fiber optic cable north of Vilanculos (Inhambane Province) is damaged. Repairs are expected to take up to 4 weeks. Cell phone, landline, and internet communication to areas north of Vilanculos are severely restricted.  Effects of the damage are being felt in Maputo as well.

U.S. citizens residing in or traveling to Mozambique during the repair period should note that it will be extremely difficult to communicate via cell, landline, or internet, including with the U.S. Embassy in Maputo, and might impact the type of services and assistance the embassy can offer to U.S. citizens in an emergency. Additionally, banking systems and airports are experiencing difficulties providing services. Although flights may be manually ticketed, travelers should expect flights to be overbooked and should prepare for this possibility.

For the latest security information, U.S. citizens traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department's Internet website (http://travel.state.gov), where the current Travel Warnings and Public Announcements, including the World Wide Caution, can be found. Up-to-date information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States and Canada, or for callers outside the United States and Canada, a regular toll-line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00am to 8:00pm Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

U.S. citizens living or traveling in Mozambique are encouraged to register with the U.S. Embassy through the State Department’s travel registration website, https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/, so they can obtain updated information on travel and security within Mozambique. U.S. citizens without Internet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy. By registering, U.S. citizens make it easier for the Embassy to contact them in case of emergency. The U.S. Embassy is located in Maputo at 193 Avenida Kenneth Kaunda, telephone (258) 21 49 2797. The after-hours telephone numbers for use in emergencies are (258) 21 49 0723 and 21 49 2797. The Consular Section's e-mail address is consularmaputo@state.gov. The Embassy's web site is http://maputo.usembassy.gov/.