{"license":"CC BY 4.0 — attribution: IsMyTripSafe.com","source":"https://ismytripsafe.com/syria/damascus","updatedAt":"2026-09-13T18:41:31.039Z","place":{"city":"Damascus","country":"Syria","countryCode":"SY","lat":33.5102,"lon":36.29128},"safety":{"score":18,"level":"HIGH_RISK","answer":"Elevated risk — reconsider","saferThanPctOfCountries":6,"confidence":0.88,"caps":[{"max":18,"reason":"Level 4 advisory — \"Do Not Travel\""}],"databaseScore":18,"travellerSentiment":{"score":52,"label":"Mostly negative","summary":"Traveler reports from mid-2026 indicate widespread anxiety about security, with many citing bomb threats and military checkpoints as major stressors, though some note hospitality in tourist zones.","weightInScore":0.18,"components":[{"label":"Reported feel","score":35,"weight":0.35},{"label":"Robbery risk","score":62,"weight":0.45},{"label":"Pickpocket risk","score":58,"weight":0.2}]},"categories":[{"key":"crime","label":"Crime","score":42,"tier":1},{"key":"sentiment","label":"Traveller Sentiment","score":52,"tier":1},{"key":"advisories","label":"Advisories","score":0,"tier":2},{"key":"stability","label":"Stability","score":27,"tier":2},{"key":"health","label":"Health & Air","score":65,"tier":2}]},"advisories":[{"source":"U.S. Department of State","level":4,"label":"Do Not Travel","updated":"Thu, 11 Dec 2025","url":"https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/syria-travel-advisory.html"},{"source":"UK Foreign Office (FCDO)","level":4,"label":"Advises against all travel","updated":"2026-09-02T13:56:01Z","url":"https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/syria"},{"source":"Government of Canada","level":4,"label":"Avoid all travel","updated":"2026-09-09T09:13:44.4756144-04:00","url":"https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/syria"}],"indicators":[{"key":"homicide","label":"Homicide rate","value":2.05938679956635,"display":"2.1 / 100k","year":"2010","score":86,"source":"World Bank Open Data"},{"key":"terrorism_deaths_pm","label":"Terrorism deaths (latest year)","value":9.679776219186355,"display":"9.7 / million","year":"2021","score":41,"source":"Global Terrorism Database"},{"key":"road_deaths","label":"Road traffic deaths","value":29.9,"display":"29.9 / 100k","year":"2021","score":24,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"stability","label":"Political stability & no terrorism","value":25.4439405,"display":"25/100","year":"2024","score":25,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"rule_of_law","label":"Rule of law","value":25.7521361,"display":"26/100","year":"2024","score":26,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"corruption","label":"Control of corruption","value":13.4112838,"display":"13/100","year":"2024","score":13,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"gov_effectiveness","label":"Government effectiveness","value":18.8174812,"display":"19/100","year":"2024","score":19,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"regulatory","label":"Regulatory quality","value":23.3597703,"display":"23/100","year":"2024","score":23,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"voice","label":"Voice & accountability","value":24.517035,"display":"25/100","year":"2024","score":25,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"city_population_scale","label":"Urban scale factor","value":1569394,"display":"1.6M residents","year":null,"score":63,"source":"City Geocoding"},{"key":"numbeo_crime_index","label":"Crime index (crowdsourced)","value":68.1,"display":"68.1 / 100","year":null,"score":31,"source":"Numbeo Crime Index"},{"key":"air_quality","label":"Air quality","value":60,"display":"US AQI 60 · Moderate","year":null,"score":85,"source":"Open-Meteo Air Quality"},{"key":"health","label":"Travel health notices","value":null,"display":"3 global notices","year":null,"score":92,"source":"CDC Travelers' Health"},{"key":"hospitals","label":"Hospitals nearby","value":80,"display":"80 within 15 km · nearest ~0.6 km","year":null,"score":95,"source":"OpenStreetMap"},{"key":"weather","label":"Extreme weather","value":38,"display":"September: highs ~38°C · high heat","year":null,"score":80,"source":"Open-Meteo"},{"key":"natural_hazards","label":"Natural hazards","value":2,"display":"2 active alerts · Wildfire (green)","year":null,"score":92,"source":"GDACS / USGS"},{"key":"advisory","label":"Government travel advisory","value":4,"display":"Level 4 — Do Not Travel · 2 govts","year":null,"score":0,"source":"CA / US"},{"key":"research_robbery_risk","label":"Mugging & robbery risk","value":3,"display":"Moderate risk","year":null,"score":62,"source":"City Web Research"},{"key":"research_pickpocket_risk","label":"Pickpocketing & theft risk","value":2,"display":"High risk","year":null,"score":58,"source":"City Web Research"},{"key":"research_sentiment_score","label":"Visitor safety sentiment","value":35,"display":"35 / 100 (Mostly negative)","year":null,"score":35,"source":"City Web Research"}],"healthNotices":[{"level":"Alert","title":"Global Polio","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level2/global-polio"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Dengue","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/dengue-global"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Measles","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/measles-globe"}],"hazardAlerts":[{"kind":"Wildfire","severity":"green","title":"forest fire notification in Türkiye","distanceKm":414},{"kind":"Wildfire","severity":"green","title":"forest fire notification in Türkiye","distanceKm":444}],"fieldResearch":{"verdict":"No — Damascus remains unsafe for travelers due to ongoing security threats and government Do Not Travel advisories.","summary":"Despite some signs of stabilization, Damascus continues to face sporadic bombings, militant activity, and sectarian tensions, with multiple governments maintaining Level 4 advisories. Visitors risk exposure to violence, arbitrary detention, and limited consular support.","robberyRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"Armed robbery and mugging occur, particularly after dark in less-patrolled outskirts and refugee-heavy districts like Yarmouk and Tadamon."},"pickpocketRisk":{"level":"High","note":"Pickpocketing and bag-snatching are common in crowded areas such as Al-Hamidiyah Souq and near the Umayyad Mosque."},"safeAreas":["Al-Muhajireen","Kafr Sousa"],"avoidAreas":["Sha'alan (high crime and instability)","Jobar (residual conflict zone instability)"],"scams":["Currency exchange fraud by unofficial money changers","Fake visa agents charging inflated fees","Taxi overcharging, especially near hotels and tourist sites"],"zones":[{"name":"Old City","level":"caution","note":"Historic core with checkpoints; petty crime and sporadic unrest reported in July 2026"},{"name":"Al-Muhajireen","level":"safe","note":"Affluent residential area with strong security presence; lower crime risk"},{"name":"Mezzeh","level":"caution","note":"Government and embassy district; elevated terrorism risk per July 2026 bombings"},{"name":"Sha'alan","level":"avoid","note":"High crime and instability; Maskane.com lists it among most dangerous neighborhoods"},{"name":"Kafr Sousa","level":"safe","note":"Modern, well-patrolled area favored by expats and investors per Imtilak.sy"},{"name":"Barzeh","level":"caution","note":"Mixed-use area with reports of unrest and theft; exercise caution after dark"},{"name":"Qanawat","level":"caution","note":"Older district near Old City; pickpocketing risk high in crowded markets"},{"name":"Jobar","level":"avoid","note":"Former conflict zone with residual instability; avoid per Maskane.com and recent reports"}]}}