Fed: DFAT warns nearest neighbours face Y2K problems

AAP General News (Australia)
12-21-1999
Fed: DFAT warns nearest neighbours face Y2K problems

By Rod McGuirk

CANBERRA, Dec 21 AAP - Australians travelling overseas to their nearest neighbours
risked Y2K disruptions in Indonesia, Thailand and Papua New Guinea, the Department of
Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) warned today.

Australians were warned to take special care while travelling over the New Year period,
particularLy those who might require hospitalisation.

"While Indonesia, Papau New Guinea and Thailand are well aware of the Y2K problem and
have been taking steps to address it, there remain some risks of limited disruption in
many key sectors in those countries," DFAT consular branch assistant secretary David O'Leary
told journalists.

Hospitals throughout the world were regarded as under threat from inadequate back-up
power supplies or machinery that could shut down.

DFAT officials warned the greatest threat was the cascading or ripple effects of a
number of key infrastructure sectors shutting down at once.

"The health sector has been widely identified as an area of particular concern in many
overseas countries and we recommend strongly that Australians carry their usual medications
with them," Mr O'Leary said.

"Those who have special medical needs should consult with their own personal doctors
about the advisability of travelling over the Y2K rollover period."

DFAT had also identified limited risk in China of disruption to the health sector,
telecommunications as well as banking and finance.

But Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia and South Korea were regarded as low-risk.

The new millennium was not expected to have any significant impact on most Pacific
island countries.

DFAT last month advised Australians to defer non-essential travel to Russia due to
the lack of Y2K preparedness in that country.

Earlier this month, DFAT also announced the voluntary departure of non-essential staff
from Poland rather than risk them being left without power or gas in the northern winter.

DFAT had no estimates of the number of Australians who will be overseas in the New Year.

Australians travelling overseas over the rollover period were urged to monitor DFAT's
website, www.dfat.au/consular/advice/y2k, for updates on the risk assessments of 70 countries
where Australia had a diplomatic presence.

DFAT officials reported that no significant flight safety issues were expected over
the first week of January.

But they cautioned that their information was based on major international carriers.

"Frankly it remains very difficult to access precisely how severe Y2K-related problems
will be," Mr O'Leary said.

AAP rmg/jg/bdm

KEYWORD: Y2K TRAVEL

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