Warden Message
June 26, 2009

Short Wave Radio Broadcast of Emergency Information

The Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy is pleased to announce an additional means of communicating with Americans in Ethiopia.

Beginning with an inaugural broadcast on Monday, June 29 at 8:00 a.m. and again at 18:15, emergency information from the Embassy to American citizens can be heard via short wave radio at 5280 KHz during the regularly scheduled information messages broadcast by SIM (Serving in Mission), a missionary organization in Addis Ababa with a long history of service in Ethiopia.

American citizens are encouraged to tune into 5280 KHz on June 29 at either of those times to hear one of the inaugural broadcasts of this service and to familiarize themselves with the operation and reception of their short wave radios.

In the event of a crisis, telephonic communication is often disabled, making it impossible for the Embassy to disseminate information to Americans via email, telephone, or text message.  By utilizing SIM’s short wave radio broadcasts, the Embassy employs an additional means of communication that does not rely upon the continued operation of Ethiopia’s telephone grid and will reach Americans in remote areas of Ethiopia not well served by telephones.

With the exception of the inaugural broadcasts Monday, this short-wave warden service will be activated only in the event of a crisis.  During a crisis, Americans should tune into 5280 KHz at both 8:00 and 18:15 daily to check for information from the Embassy.

The Embassy thanks the staff of SIM for its assistance in establishing this partnership.

American citizens are reminded to review their personal safety and security posture and to remain vigilant especially at public events and venues.  Beware of unattended baggage or packages left in any location, including in minibuses and taxis.  American citizens are strongly urged to review all the Department of State’s cautions about travel in Ethiopia, contained in the Country Specific Information for Ethiopia on the Department’s website at: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1113.html.  The Embassy’s recent warden messages are available at: http://ethiopia.usembassy.gov/service.html

For the latest security information, American citizens living and traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs internet website at http://travel.state.gov/, where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Alerts, and Travel Warnings can be found.  Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the U.S. and Canada, or, for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll-line at 1-202-501-4444.  These numbers are available from 8 AM to 8 PM Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. Federal Holidays.)

The U.S. Embassy is located at Entoto Avenue, P.O. Box 1014, in Addis Ababa; telephone: 251-11-124-2424; in the event of an emergency involving American citizens after-hours, call: 251-11-124-2400; consular fax: 251-11-124-2435; web site: http://ethiopia.usembassy.gov/.