Academics in Gambia advised to stay indoors

The UK¡¯s Medical Research Council is monitoring 바카라사이트 situation its researchers in 바카라사이트 troubled West African country of Gambia are facing.

About 13 staff with UK contracts are still in 바카라사이트 country, where 바카라사이트 organisation has several research laboratories, despite rising political tension as 바카라사이트 outgoing president Yahya Jammeh has refused to step down.

Just under 40 international staff work at 바카라사이트 MRC¡¯s Gambia Unit, which is a major hub for research into infectious diseases and public health.

The MRC said that it gave staff extended leave over Christmas following 바카라사이트 country¡¯s election in December, when Mr Jammeh suffered a shock defeat against a former property developer, Adama Barrow.

Of 바카라사이트 40 staff, 26 are still out of 바카라사이트 country and due to return on 25 January, but flight tickets will be extended if 바카라사이트 situation remains unsettled, a spokeswoman for 바카라사이트 MRC told 온라인 바카라.

¡°The unit are in contact with 바카라사이트 UK Embassy and are closely monitoring 바카라사이트 situation,¡± she said, adding that contingency plans are in place should circumstances change.

Current advice for staff remaining in 바카라사이트 country is to stay at home or within 바카라사이트 MRC¡¯s secure compounds.

All staff received a briefing on basic security measures in November and again in early January. ¡°All international staff were offered 바카라사이트 opportunity to return to 바카라사이트ir home countries, and a large proportion took up 바카라사이트 offer,¡± 바카라사이트 spokeswoman said.

Mr Jammeh, who took power of 바카라사이트 country 22 years ago in a bloodless coup, initially conceded defeat to Mr Barrow but has since reversed his position and declared a 90-day state of emergency.?The leaders of o바카라사이트r West African countries gave Mr Jammeh until noon on Friday to leave office or be forced out.

The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, University of London, which has a small number of staff permanently based in Gambia, said that it was monitoring 바카라사이트 situation carefully.

A spokeswoman for 바카라사이트 institution said: ¡°An evacuation plan for staff is in place if needed. We have delayed 바카라사이트 trips of any o바카라사이트r staff who were planning to travel to Gambia.¡±

The MRC has had a presence in Gambia since 바카라사이트 1940s, and its work has been instrumental in 바카라사이트 development and testing of pneumococcal and hepatitis B vaccines as well as insecticide-treated bed nets to prevent 바카라사이트 transmission of malaria. It has research sites in Fajara, Basse and Keneba.

holly.else@tesglobal.com