U.S. Embassy In Syria Urges Citizens To Leave 'Immediately'

By Susan Duclos

Text of full Emergency Message for U.S. Citizens from the U.S. Embassy in Damascus below the post.

Since March, a reported 4,000 people have been killed from a military crack down in Syria.

A key U.N. committee voted Tuesday to condemn human rights violations by Assad's government and called for an immediate end to all violence in a nonbinding resolution adopted by the General Assembly's human rights committee.

Via CBS News:

The resolution, sponsored by Britain, France and Germany, was passed by a vote of 122-13 with 41 abstentions. It must now be approved at a plenary session of the 193-member world body, where its adoption is virtually certain.

U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice said in a statement that the committee's first-ever resolution on Syria's human rights violations "has sent a clear message that it does not accept abuse and death as a legitimate path to retaining power."

The U.S. Embassy has issued a warning which urges it's citizens to leave while they still can.

The U.S. Embassy in Damascus urged its citizens in Syria to depart "immediately," and Turkey's foreign ministry urged Turkish pilgrims to opt for flights to return home from Saudi Arabia to avoid traveling through Syria.

"The U.S. Embassy continues to urge U.S. citizens in Syria to depart immediately while commercial transportation is available," said a statement issued to the American community in Syria Wednesday and posted on the Embassy's website. "The number of airlines serving Syria has decreased significantly since the summer, while many of those airlines remaining have reduced their number of flights."

With tensions building and civil war becoming more and more likely, the U.S. has parked the USS George H.W. Bush, an aircraft carrier, off the coast of Syria. (Source)

From the U.S. Embassy of the United states, Damascus, Syria:

EMERGENCY MESSAGE FOR U.S. CITIZENS
November 23, 2011
Embassy of the United States of America
Consular Section
2, Al-Mansour St., Abu Roumaneh
P.O. Box 29
Damascus, Syria
Tel: (963-11) 3391-4444
Fax: (963-11) 331-9678
e-mail: acsdamascus@state.gov
Website: http://damascus.usembassy.gov

This message is intended for the American community in Syria. If you have any questions, please contact the Consular Section at the above address. If you wish to be added to our e-mail distribution, we invite you to complete the enrollment process through our website. To access the site please enter the following link address http://travel.state.gov or directly, at https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui

Wardens: Transmission by phone is mandatory.

Emergency Message for U.S. Citizens: Significant decrease in the number of commercial flights from Syria

November 23, 2011

The U.S. Embassy continues to urge U.S. citizens in Syria to depart immediately while commercial transportation is available. The number of airlines serving Syria has decreased significantly since the summer, while many of those airlines remaining have reduced their number of flights. Please take this opportunity to review our most recent Travel Warning for Syria.

U.S. citizens living or traveling in Syria are encouraged to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). U.S. citizens without internet access may enroll directly at the nearest U.S. Embassy or U.S. Consulate. By enrolling, U.S. citizens make it easier for the embassy/consulates to contact them in case of emergency.

Up-to-date information on 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, on a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

Stay up to date by bookmarking our Bureau of Consular Affairs website, which contains the current Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts as well as the Worldwide Caution. Follow us on Twitter and the Bureau of Consular Affairs page on facebook as well.

For information on “What the Department of State Can and Can't Do in a Crisis,” please visit the Bureau of Consular Affairs’ Emergencies and Crisis link at: http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/emergencies/emergencies_1212.html

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