MS Risk Blog

Brazil World Cup Travel Advisory: Curitiba, Natal and Salvador

CURITIBA

City Description

Curitiba is the capital and largest city of the Brazilian state of Paraná. The city’s population numbered approximately 1,760,500 people in 2010, making it the 8^th most populous city in Brazil and the largest in the country’s South Region.

Security

While Curitiba has been known, for many years, as a safe city, crime rates have been on the rise in recent years.

Crime involving tourists is generally non-violent and related to thefts and pickpocketing. While neighborhoods throughout the city are generally safe, you are advised to be cautious especially in the area near the Main Bus Terminal; Downtown squares, while safe during the day, during the night these areas are known to be hideaways for drug dealers and robbers; the Historical Center; and the neighborhoods of Batel, Rebouca and Prado Velho.

The neighborhoods located on the south side of the city, including Sitio Cercado, Fazendinha, Pinheirho, Cidade Industrial, Tatuquara, are the poorest areas and should therefore be avoided as the crime rates in these areas are particularly high.

Tourists to the city are advised to remain cautious when crossing streets throughout Curitiba. This is due to the fact that crossing signals do not always work, and often require maintenance.   Drivers in the city are also known not to respect pedestrians.

At night, you are advised to take a taxi when travelling in the city.

Transportation

International Airport

Afonso Pena International Airport is Curitiba’s main airport and is located in the nearby city of São José dos Pinhais. All commercial flights operate from this airport.

Bacacheir Airport is a smaller general aviation facility.

Public Transport

Curitiba’s public transportation consists entirely of buses. It is known as the bus rapid transit (BRT) system, Rede Inegrada de Transporte.

Roads

Moving around by car can be difficult in and around the city center. This is due to the many one-way streets and frequent traffic. The Trinary Road System allows quick access to the city center for drivers.

NATAL 

City Description

Natal is the capital and largest city of Rio Grande do Norte, a northeastern state in Brazil.

Security

While the city of Natal was once safe, recent statistics have indicated that crime is on the rise, however it Natal is safer than other touristic cities in the northeast of Brazil, including Fortaleza, Recife and Salvador.

While pickpocketing is common, violent assaults in the city are rare.

If visiting the Forte dos Reis Magos, MS Risk recommends that you travel by taxi and avoid walking along the Praia Forte. This is due to a recent surge in assaults and robberies that have targeted tourists along the beach. Ponta Negra beach is also not secure, with armed assaults on the beach occurring at any time, including day and night.

MS Risk advises all travellers to the beach to avoid taking any valuable articles with you.

Transportation

 International Airport

Augusto Severo International Airport in Parnamirim is located 18 kilometers (9 miles) from Natal.

Highways

Federal Highway BR-101 is the most important access to Natal, coming from the south of Brazil through the boundary with the municipality of Parnamirim. If travelling from the State of Ceará, the principle access is by the Federal Highway BR-304, through the boundary with the municipality of Macaíba, where you pick up BR-226.

When leaving Natal, an important access to the southern Potiguar coast is the RN-063, which is also known as the “Sun Route” (Rota do Sol). This route takes you to the beaches of Pirangi, Búzios, Tabatinga, and up to the municipality of Nísia Floresta. The North Shore is accessible from the Newton Navarro Bridge, following the Praia do Forte to Genipabu, and the Igapó Bridge, following the district of Igapó by BR-101 to Touros, and by BR-406 to Macau.

Bus

Natal is connected to all the 167 municipalities of Rio Grande do Norte, along with dozens of locations and Potiguar districts, through the Passenger Bus Terminal of Natal, which is located in the Eastern zone of the city.

Taxis

Taxis in Rio de Janeiro are white and have red plates. Fares are the same, regardless of how new and comfortable the car is. Fares are regulated by the government.

SALVADOR

City Description

Salvador is the largest city on the northeastern coast of Brazil and is the capital of the Northeastern Brazilian state of Bahia.

Security

While Salvador is fairly safe, MS Risk advises all travellers to remain vigilant at all times. Always avoid deserted streets, especially after dark.

Transportation

International Airport

Deputado Luís Eduardo Magalhães International Airport is located 28 kilometers (17 miles) north of downtown Salvador.

Highways

The BR-101 and the BR-116 Federal highways cross Bahia from north to south, connecting Salvador to the rest of the country.

Bus 

The bus station, or Rodoviária of Salvador, is located in Iguatemi district, with direct buses to larger cities in the country and to many destinations in the state of Bahia.

So Far, So Good!

The big security event in the last 24hrs was a ‘bomb’ alert around the stadium in Manaus in the mid-morning.  Initial reports indicate that a police dog alerted authorities to an unattended vehicle during a routine sweep of the area. After about two hours on site, the bomb squad concluded that the dog detected a residue of gunpowder.

Concerning spectator security, there was an alleged rape of an American Woman in Cuiaba on Friday that occurred at a local residence after the spectators returned there after late night celebrations.  In the same city, several muggings were reported during the after-match celebrations, mostly involving tourists. There is no panacea for these events however, taking efforts to avoid threatening environments where you are isolated and without escape routes is always advised and keep some emergency cash and a list of phone numbers and/or address for your hotel separate from your wallet or bag.

There was report of English fans starting a fight mid afternoon in Manaus but every other countries fans seem to be well behaved, even where Colombians outnumber Greeks 10 to 1 in Belo Horizonte.  A protest took place in Belo Horizonte before the match, a good distance away from the stadium where the police reacted with resolve to prevent the situation from getting beyond control.  Expect these events to continue for the benefit of media consumption but they will be dealt with swiftly to prevent disruption to the tournament and spectators.

The surprise upset of Costa Rica over the tournaments first winners, Uruguay, was met with only celebration in Fortaleza. The most violence seen so far was when Pereira was dealt a red card for Uruguay in the 93^rd minute.

Reporting indicates transport is working well throughout the country. Although there was a strike Natal on Friday where only 30% of the buses were running but organisers pulled it together to get spectators to the game using school buses. In other places, Sao Paulo, Manaus, and elsewhere, public transport appears up to the task although it remains difficult at times.

Today’s matches are in Porto Alegre, Brasilia, and Rio De Janeiro at the legendary Maracanã.  Porto Alegre is one of the smaller host cities but has good infrastructure to get around, the town centre can appear a bit seedy and it has had an issue with crime so advice concerning situational awareness remains extant. Brasilia and Rio, the capital and the former capital respectively, are both more than capable of hosting world-class events and have the same problems seen in any big city.  Big stadiums are rarely found in affluent neighbourhoods so take transport to and from the game and don’t hang around in the rough areas for a drink afterwards.

Security Review of Brazil

A full moon on Friday the 13^th and the strangest thing to occur yesterday was a trouncing of the Spanish at the hands, or rather feet, of the Dutch.

As for security issues, there has been some concern raised over the security of stadiums where one reporter complained “…credentials were checked and his bag was scanned only one time before he entered the complex..”; this is similar to most sporting events and bags are only scanned once at international airports so I’m not quite sure what the concern is. Bags are being searched and tickets are being checked, this dramatically reduces the capacity of violence in the stadium.  It is worth noting that Brazil does not have a population of ideologically motivated violent actors nor have they been recognised as a target for Islamic extremism so the likelihood of this event being targeted by terrorists is much lower than in London or Sochi during the Olympics.

Today’s matches are in Belo Horizonte, Fortaleza, Manaus, and Recife.  All four cities make the UN top 50 most violent in the world with Manaus topping at number 11.  The vast majority, like the crime in Mexico’s most dangerous cities as well as throughout Latin America, is due to large-scale organized crime.  In fact, all of the cities are regarded as places to go by travel guides and backpackers.

The game likely to have problems, if any, is the England vs Italy match in Manaus.  This is not due to nature of the city or security risk but rather the propensity for British football fans to drink too much and start trouble themselves. It is recommended to stay away from large groups of drunken men, regardless of affiliation, and not to drink too much altogether.  Drunken people are targets for petty crime: mugging, express kidnapping, pickpocketing, etc.

Brazil World Cup Travel Advisory: Belo Horizonte, Fortaleza, Manaus and Recife

BELO HORIZONTE

City Description

Belo Horizonte is the capital city of the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais, which is located in the southeastern region of the country. As of 2013, the municipality’s population was 2,479,175, making it the most populous city in the Minas Gerais state and the 6^th most populous city in Brazil.

Security

Belo Horizonte has been classified as a “moderate” risk, due to the high crime rates that have occurred throughout the city. Travellers to the city are reminded to remain vigilant at all times, especially during major events including the upcoming World Cup, as thieves and local criminals will likely target tourists during this period.

The city has seen a recent surge in crime related to drugs. Travellers are therefore advised to avoid carrying expensive electronics, including cameras, notebooks, iPods or jewelry. You are also advised against walking alone at night. Keep in mind that muggings can occur at any time, day or night, and it is not uncommon to be mugged at traffic lights.

When crossing the street, you are advised to watch out for motorcycles as they can at times appear out of nowhere and often ignore stop signs.

Transportation

International Airport

Belo Horizonte is served by three airports:

• Tancredo Neves/Confins International Airport: It serves both domestic and international flights. It is located in the municipalities of Lagoa Santa and Confins, which is 38 kilometers (24 miles) from Belo Horizonta.
• Pampulha-Carlos Drummond de Andrade Airport: Dedicated to domestic traffic.
• Carlos Prates Airport: Dedicated to general aviation.

Highways

The city is connected to the rest of Minas Gerais state and the country by a number of roadways. The state of Minas Gerais has the country’s largest federal highway network.

• BR-040: Connects Belo Horizonte to Rio de Janeiro, going south, and Brasília going northwest. It also links other cities in the state, including Juiz de Fora, Conselheiro Lafaiete, Barbacena, Sete Lagoas, and Paracatu.
• BR-262: This highway begins in Mato Grosso do Sul and ends in Espirio Santo, crossing Minas Gerais from west to east. It links Belo Horizonta to Pará de Minas, Araxá, Manhuaçu, Uberaba, Governador Valadares, and Vitória, the capital of Espírito Santo state.
• BR-381: This is an important federal highway as it connects Belo Horizonta to São Paulo.
• MG-010: This is a state highway that connects the capital to the Tancredo Neves International Airport.

Belo Horizonte is also served by other minor roads, including state highways MS-020, MG-050, MG-030 and MG-433. There is also an East-West Express Way, which goes from the city to the nearby industrial centers of Contagem and Betim.

Bus System

The bus system in Belo Horizonte has a large number of bus lines that go through all the parts in the city.

Railways

Belo Horizonte Metro, or MetroBH, has one line, with 19 stations from Vilarinho to Eldorado Station, in Contagem.

FORTALEZA

City Description

Fortaleza is the state capital of Ceará, which is located in northeastern Brazil. With a population close to 2.55 million, Fortaleza is the 5^th largest city in Brazil.

Security

The crime rate in Fortaleza has increased in the past few years. Although most of the commercial districts throughout the city are fairly safe, including the center and the tourist area around Beira Mar, pickpocketing, bag-snatching and other non-violent robberies have occurred in the past. MS Risk advises all travellers to remain vigilant at all times and to never display any valuables.

Praia do Futuro is bordered by one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in Foratleza, Serviluz. MS Risk advises all travellers to not walk through the deserted areas of this beach, even if you are moving between two crowded places. Bus stops in this area are known to be targeted by robbers after sunset.

Transportation

International Airport

Fortaleza International Airport is the main airport in the city.

Metro

MetroFor is composed of 43 kilometers (27 miles) of rapid transit system in the city of Fortaleza. The rapid transit system has twenty-eight stations: 18 on the south line, four of which are underground; and 10 on the west line beyond the central station.

MANAUS

City Description

Manaus is the capital city of the state of Amazonas in northern Brazil. It is located on the north bank of the Negro River, 18 kilometers (11 miles) from the confluence of the Negro and Solimões rivers. Due to its location in the middle of the Amazon rainforest, access to the city is primarily through boat or airplane. As of 2014, the city’s population is 1.9 million, making it the most populous in the Brazilian Amazon area and the 7^th most populous in the country.

Security

While Manaus is fairly safe, MS Risk advises all travellers to remain vigilant at all times. Always avoid deserted streets, especially after dark.

Transportation

International Airport

Eduardo Gomes International is the airport that serves Manaus. The airport has two passenger terminals, one for scheduled flights and the other for regional aviation. It also has three cargo terminals.

Highways 

There are two federal highways that connect Manaus with the rest of the country.   There is a paved road that heads north, BR-174, and which connects Manaus to Boa Vista, the capital of the State of Roraima, and to Venezuela. The BR-319 heads south and connects Manaus to Port Velho, the state capital ofRondônia. Access to this highway however requires a ferry crossing to Careiro, across the Rio Negro and River Amazon, which take about forty minutes. BR-319 is only paved for about 100 kilometers (62 miles) to Castanho. After that, the highway is not paved and cannot be used.

The two major state highways are the AM-010 and the AM-070. The AM-010 heads east, to Itacoatiara, Amazonas at the banks of the River Amazon. The AM-070 heads south and reaches Manacapuru, which lies at the banks of the Solimoes River. Both roads are paved and operate all year round.

RECIFE

City Description

Recife is the fifth-largest metropolitan area in Brazil. The city is located where the Berberibe River meets the Capibaribe River, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean.   It is a major port on the Atlantic Ocean.

Security

As in Rio de Janeiro, tourists in Recife are advised to take special care while on the beaches, as robberies may occur at any time, even in broad daylight.

In the upscale Boa Viagem neighborhood, carjackings can occur at any time of the day or night.

Transportation

International Airport

Guararapes International Airport, also known as Gilberto Freyre International Airport, is the airport that serves Recife.

Highways

Recife metropolitan area is cross by four main highways

• BR-101 North:Paraíba and Rio Grande do Norte
• BR-101 South:Alagoas, Bahia, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul;
• BR-232 West:Gravatá, Caruaru, Belo Jardim, Arcoverde, Salgueiro and Parnamirim;
• BR-408 Northwest:Carpina, Timbaúba and Campina Grande;

Metro

The Recife Metro currently has twenty-eight stations and is 44.2 kilometers (27.5 miles) long. It is formed by the Central line, which is further divided into two lines, and the South line.

Warnings Issued in Africa as Threat of World Cup Attacks Increases Across the Continent

As the FIFA World Cup football tournament kicks off in Brazil, security warnings have been issued for a number of African countries, including Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria and Uganda. UK officials have also issued warnings for Djibouti, stating that they have credible intelligence that al-Shabaab insurgents may be planning to carry out further terrorist attacks against targets that include “Western interests.”

East African nations are currently on high alert over fears that Somalia’s al-Shabaab may launch attacks on World Cup screenings over the next month. Previous attacks throughout the region have targeted places where football matches are being viewed. Crowded areas, including hotels, restaurants and bars and transport hubs are possible targets.

Ethiopia

There is currently a high threat from terrorism throughout Ethiopia. Attacks could be indiscriminate and can occur at any moment, including in places that are frequented by foreigners. Previous terrorist attacks in the region have targeted places where football matches are being viewed.

Kenya

There is a high threat from terrorism in Kenya, mainly from al-Shabaab. The militant group has issued public threats against Kenya, due to the country’s military intervention in Somalia, and has recently stated that they are shifting the war and will now focus on Kenya. There have been a number of small-scale grenade, bomb and armed attacks in Nairobi, especially in the Eastleigh district, Mombasa and Northern Eastern Province. Methods of attacks have included shootings and bombings, including car bombings, as well as the use of grenades.

Kenyan police chief David Kimaiyo has promised “sufficient security measures” to ensure the safety of fans, however he has noted that bar owners must take their own precautions, stating, “owners of such social places must ensure that every person is thoroughly screened before entering their premises.” Attacks could be indiscriminate and will likely occur in places that are frequented by foreigners, including bars, sports bars, restaurants, hotels, nightclubs, sporting events, supermarkets, shopping centres, beaches, buses, trains and transport hubs.

Uganda

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, whose country is a key contributor to African Union (AU) forces fighting al-Shabaab in Somalia, has cautioned fans “to be alert as they enjoy football, bearing in mind that the country is threatened.” A statement issued by Ugandan security forces has urged that people are screened prior to viewing soccer tournaments. The move is being enforced in a bid to avoid a repeat of attacks that occurred four years ago during the World Cup final, when al-Shabaab militants bombed two restaurants in the Ugandan capital, killing at least seventy-six people.

Djibouti

Officials in Britain warned earlier this week that al-Shabaab insurgents are planning further attacks in Djibouti, after last month’s suicide bomb attack on a crowded restaurant. According to a statement released by the UK Foreign Office, “there are credible reports that al-Shabaab plan, and have the capability, to attack targets in Djibouti, including western interests,” adding “there is a high threat from terrorism” in the port city. The statement further notes “Djibouti and Western interests within Djibouti may be seen as a legitimate target by al-Shabaab because of its support to the Somali government and its participation in the African Union peacekeeping mission.”

Djibouti has troops deployed in Somalia, as part of the African Union force that is battling the militant group, however the Horn of Africa nation’s port also serves as a key base for ships taking part in international anti-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia. Last month, at least one person was killed and several others wounded when two suicide bombers blew themselves up in a restaurant, the first attack in Djibouti to be claimed by al-Shabaab since the country joined the AU force in 2011. Days after the attack, al-Shabaab claimed responsibility and indicated that the attack was carried out in retaliation for Djibouti’s hosting of the United States’ largest military base in Africa, which is used for operations across the region, including drone strikes against Islamists in Somalia. France also has a base in Djibouti.

Nigeria

Nigerian officials have taken additional steps in order to prevent any World Cup related terrorist attacks from occurring. Soldiers in the capital of Yola, Adamawa state, have shut down all venues preparing to screen live World Cup matches in the hopes to stave off attacks. The Nigerian government has also advised resident of the capital city, Abuja, to avoid public viewing centres.  Minister Bela Mohamed has issued a directive for Abuja, ordering high vigilance in places such as motor parks, restaurants, markets, supermarkets, shopping malls, banks, churches, mosques, hotels, viewing centres and hospital.

While over the past five years, the states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa have seen a number of deadly terrorist attacks, in recent months, Boko Haram militants have carried out an increasingly bold series of assaults, which has included the kidnapping of more than 200 schoolgirls in April. Since then, the militants have carried out a number of attacks on villages, including a recent car bomb that was set of at a centre in the settlement of Gavan, in the north-eastern state of Adamawa. O June 1, at least eighteen people watching a game on television were killed. A week before that incident, a suicide bomber set out for an open-air screening of a match in Nigeria’s central city of Jos. His car blew upon the way, killing three people. Such assaults on television viewing centres across Africa have raised fears that militant groups will target supporters gathering to cheer on the global football contest.