Given the aggravated oil crisis and economic volatility of today, you can easily state that this worldly chaos was inevitable. Even though the UN and other organizations are going to great lengths to make the world the serene and quiet place everyone dreams of, certain countries are having serious and grave issues with religious and military extremists, terrorism, crime rates and several other types of peace threatening activities.
As the people in those countries live in constant fear and are highly concerned about their safety, travelers are strongly advised not to travel there for the time being. Let’s review the most dangerous countries you definitely don’t want to be visiting in 2012.
1. Syria
The deteriorating economic situation in Syria has made it impossible for anyone to watch the news without hearing about a bombing, murder or abuse in this country. However, what is truly worrisome is the fact that in the past months, the criminal offenses have even extended to innocent tourists. Most political leaders agree that the Syrian government is to blame for this and severe restrictions are already in place against the abusive regime. Until the civil war and political chaos there are over, it is best to avoid traveling to Syria.
2. Israel
The relatively new formed state of Israel is considered a ticking time bomb that could explode any moment. While it is true that it is relatively safe to travel to the Holy Land nowadays, tourists should be aware of the increasing risks of terrorist and extremist activities. If you have to visit Israel, then it is best to avoid highly tensioned areas of the country, like the West bank and the Gaza strip.
3. Somalia
Ever since the civil war started in Somalia in 1990, visitors have been avoiding this country in spite of the fact that it has been among the top tourist destinations of all times up to that point. In addition to the civil war, the chaos in Somalia is also linked to the violence between various drug warlords. In fact, their actions are what made Somalia one of the most dangerous places on Earth. If you ever have to go to Somalia, then it is for the best to hire your own bodyguards.
4. South Africa
When they think of South Africa, most people associate it with Nelson Mandela and the last soccer World Cup. And, the truth is that if you are careful while visiting this amazing country, you will surely have a memorable trip. The main issues with South Africa are related to the elevated crime rates and it has even been proclaimed the rape capital of the world. Nonetheless, if you do not wander around on dark alleys during evenings, you will be just fine.
5. Afghanistan
Although the war in Afghanistan has been over for a while, there are still numerous travel warnings that tourists should not ignore. The country is filled with various extremist organizations and extreme violence acts are frequently reported even today. It is necessary to mention the fact that Afghanistan is home to the infamous Al-Qa’ida terrorist organization and that the members of this radical group will not hesitate to kidnap or suppress European and American citizens.
6. Pakistan
While Pakistan has not been nearly as affected by President Bush’s campaign on terror, there have been violent conflagrations reported in the country. In addition, even though there have been few conflicts involving foreign citizens in Pakistan, the suicidal bombings and kidnappings are becoming increasingly frequent there. The assassination of the country’s former prime minister and the murder of Jewish journalist Daniel Pearl are the recent events that determined tourists to avoid choosing Pakistan as their next travel destination.
7. Iraq
Similar to other countries in the Middle East, Iraq is affected by terrorist activities that, sadly for the population, have not decreased much despite the fact that Saddam Hussein is dead and his extremist regime long gone. To put it simply, Iraq is a war zone, an image which is highly amplified by the fact that the country lost most of its infrastructure due to war. Iraqi or tourist, nobody is safe there, especially since the country is home to Al Qaeda and extremist Kurdish rebels.
8. Colombia
If South Africa is best known for the rape rates, Colombia is considered the world’s capital of kidnapping for ransom. In addition, reporters highlight the fact that kidnappers and cocaine warlords here are using a new drug known in the underground as “the devil’s breathe” because of its capacity of making people follow your every command. However, currently there are no official reports on the incidents involving this new drug, mostly because the victims who are under the influence do not remember anything, not even the faces of the people they were with. Add the armed guerrilla forces and terrorist attacks to the picture and you can understand why it is not a wise decision to visit Colombia any time soon.
9. Russia
Even though Russia has a rather stable and flourishing economy – let’s not forget that it is the 3rd largest wheat exporter – there have been increasing reports on violence lately. At the same time, Russia is also one of the top 10 countries with extremely high kidnapping rates. The ongoing criminal activities reported in Russia are said to be linked to the political affairs of the country and the involvement in the past and current wars on the planet. Even though the country receives millions of tourists each year, visitors are advised to be cautious.
10. Brazil
While Brazil is mostly popular for its carnivals, a less known fact about this country is the increasing crime rate. In order to get a clue about how dangerous the country has become, it is sufficient to state that the crime rates are four times higher than in the US. Experts put this dramatic change of Brazil on the fact that the country is the clearest example of class dividing: there is no middle class there, only the very rich and the very poor.
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