leaving in the midst of a coup (hypothetical, i hope)

loria · Post by **loria** » Sat Mar 14, 2009 5:14 pm

ok, so my little (much younger--26yr old) wonderful brother is in Madagascar-
he does water stuff (so making sure that small villages have access to clean water, and that sort of stuff--he lives my dream life)
but he is in Madagascar now and the situation is rapidly deteriorating--the opposition now say they have tanks. He bought tickets to get out but he couldn't get a flight until Tuesday--the embassy there is still open (as far as i know--skeleton crew) --but the embassy is in Tana (the capitol city)--so that might not be the safest place
but, does anyone know what his options would be if the situation really devolves into something where no commercial flights were going in or out? Is the US govt likely to assist in cases where a war breaks out? I am sure that he will probably get out fine, but I would like to understand the options if he doesn't--
so if anyone has state department experience or anything like that....

thanks...

lprof · Post by **lprof** » Sat Mar 14, 2009 5:26 pm

Can't help with the situation...
Wishing him safety and you peace of mind.

Wakey · Post by **Wakey** » Sat Mar 14, 2009 5:33 pm

I'm sure he's been in contact with the US embassy but just in case..

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_t ... _4439.html

http://www.antananarivo.usembassy.gov/w ... sages.html

loria · Post by **loria** » Sat Mar 14, 2009 5:42 pm

Wakey wrote:I'm sure he's been in contact with the US embassy but just in case..

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_t ... _4439.html

http://www.antananarivo.usembassy.gov/w ... sages.html

yes, he is in contact with folks from there--but most have left--it's a fairly small expat community - but thanks for the link

mindehankins · Post by **mindehankins** » Sat Mar 14, 2009 8:33 pm

Prayers for you little brother. And for his family.

sailorgirl · Post by **sailorgirl** » Sun Mar 15, 2009 8:58 am

An understatement to say its a scary world. My daughter is in Korea for Junior year abroad. Hubby is going over for a visit just as the N. Koreans, S. Koreans and Japanese are saber rattling. Its unnerving to say the least.

chicagoans · Post by **chicagoans** » Sun Mar 15, 2009 3:12 pm

Wow - he sounds like a wonderful person doing a very admirable thing... now in a very scary situation. Can the organization or corporation he's there with do anything? Is his work there affiliated with something like the Red Cross? It seems that the big humanitarian groups would have some experience getting out of unstable areas. Also it might be worth it to check with his insurance carrier to see if they cover any kind of emergency travel situation.

My prayers are with you and him.

loria · Post by **loria** » Sun Mar 15, 2009 8:06 pm

thanks chicagoans,
the company that he is with is really a NGO that has no money--just folks trying to do good stuff--so as far as i can tell no insurance. --he is not the travel insurance type. has to be cheap cheap cheap--this is a volunteer thing at this point so he even brought his own water testing supplies. he is such a great guy, i am sure he will be fine. it's just such an unfortunate turn of events.

Gromit · Post by **Gromit** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 9:57 am

Loria--

First things first is to make sure he is in contact with the US embassy; second is to make sure he has as much cash as possible,his passport and a cell phone on him at all times.

Finally, if things get too crazy I have a very good friend who is a foreign service officer at the US embassy in Lilongwe, Malawi (not exactly next door but pretty damn close-- Malawi is that really long country wedged between Mozambique and Zambia).

I can e-mail him ask that he makes a few calls if your younger brother needs some extra assistance.

Nic in KC · Post by **Nic in KC** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 10:06 am

Loria,

I will keep your brother's safety in my prayers. What an awesome thing he is doing!! Gromit, such a wonderful offer if the help is needed!

Hope he is out of harm's way soon!
Nicolle

loria · Post by **loria** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 2:07 pm

Thank you everyone for your kind thoughts--and Gromit, thank you for such a nice offer-that was really nice. I am sincerely hoping that I have no need to take you up on it!

I will post back as soon as i know that they got to Kenya safely (or Jo-burg--I think he will probably try to call from there first). So far the airport is still operating so it looks promising.

thanks again all.

djmom · Post by **djmom** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 2:41 pm

Loria,
Just read the thread, your brother will be in my prayers.

Susan

Gromit · Post by **Gromit** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 3:15 pm

Loria-- check your PM's. I went ahead and contacted my friend and he's very close with the FS officer in Madagascar (they used to live downstairs from them when they were stationed in Bandladesh).

Anyway, PM me your brothers info ASAP and he'll call her and ask her to keep an eye out for him.

Things can get dicey pretty quick so tell him not to screw around with this. Seriously.

Get me his info as soon as you can.

DELETED · Post by **DELETED** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 8:03 pm

DELETED

StJohnRuth · Post by **StJohnRuth** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 8:35 pm

loria,
Please keep us posted. You and your family are in my thoughts.
- Ruth

usvi-on-line

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leaving in the midst of a coup (hypothetical, i hope)

leaving in the midst of a coup (hypothetical, i hope)