
STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL ADVISORY - Kuwait
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KUWAIT - WARNING
 March 5, 1992

Summary:  Conditions have improved greatly in Kuwait since the end
of the Gulf War, and much of the country has returned to normal.
However, visitors must be aware of the continued danger from the
presence of unexploded land mines, bombs, and shells throughout the
country and the city.  U.S.  citizens should avoid the Iraq/Kuwait
border because of the risk of prolonged detention by Iraqi
authorities.  End Summary.

Day to day life in Kuwait has returned to normal.  Public services
such as water, electricity, telephones, police, fire protection, and
postal service have been restored, but are not yet up to
pre-invasion standards.  Because of contamination of the water
supply, bottled water should be purchased for drinking, or else tap
water should be filtered and boiled before drinking.  Daily flights
>From Europe and the Middle East are available but schedules may be
inconvenient and reservations difficult to obtain.  Kuwaiti visas
are required for U.S. citizens traveling to Kuwait and airport visas
are not available.

Due to the presence of unexploded ordnance, U.S. citizens should
exercise care when traveling throughout Kuwait.  In Kuwait City,
travelers should stay on main roads and avoid open areas and
beaches.  Minefields, booby traps, and unexploded ordnance are
present in most areas.  Outside Kuwait City, U.S.. citizens are
strongly urged to stay only on paved surfaces.  Personnel of the
U.S. Embassy have been forbidden to travel off paved surfaces.

U.S. citizens are warned to avoid all travel into the demilitarized
zone (DMZ) at the Kuwait/Iraq border.  Extreme care should be taken
if traveling north from Kuwait City to avoid going near the border.
The border with Iraq is not well marked and the guards at Kuwaiti
checkpoints, where they exist, may not advise travelers that they
are approaching the border.  In several recent incidents, U.S.
citizens working near the border were detained by Iraqi security
forces for lengthy periods under harsh conditions.  The U.S.
Government has no relations with Iraq at this time and the release
of the U.S. citizens was only obtained through the intervention of
international organizations.  Anyone who must travel near the DMZ is
strongly advised to notify family, friends, colleagues, and the U.S.
Embassy in Kuwait of their intention.

The security situation in Kuwait has improved since the end of the
Gulf War.  However, a large amount of weaponry was left behind by
the Iraqis and remains in the hands of private citizens.  U.S.
citizens are not targeted for attack, but should nonetheless be
aware of the problem and exercise caution at all times.

The crime rate in Kuwait has increased from prewar levels.  Women
have been the object of an unusual amount of harassment since the
liberation.  The U.S. Embassy recommends that American women in
Kuwait act as they would in any major American city-- be alert to
the possibility they may be followed, avoid travel alone in
unfamiliar or isolated parts of the city, (especially at night), and
do not respond to the approaches of strangers, etc.

All U.S. citizens who travel to Kuwait should register with the
U.S. Embassy in Kuwait City upon arrival.  The Embassy is prepared
to provide all consular services to U.S. citizens and is open Sunday
through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The phone number is
242-4151 through 4159 (country code 965).

No. 92-38

This replaces the travel advisory dated October 12, 1991, to note
improved conditions in Kuwait, to delete reference to air pollution
>From oil fires, to warn against traveling near the Iraqi border
because of the potential for prolonged detention under harsh
conditions by Iraqi security forces, and to report an increase in
crime and harassment against women.

