Number 15. Cuidad Juarez, Mexico: Located across the
US-Mexican border from El Paso, Texas, Juarez has become one of the epicentres of drug related
violence in the Mexican Drug War. Since the early 1990s, the city has seen around
370 homicides of women, with a further 400 missing. The violence didn't escalate until 2007, when
tensions between the Juarez and Sinaloa Cartels boiled over into a full out turf war. In an effort to fight the ongoing violence,
the Juarez fired over 800 police officers over evidence of corruption, and began a recruitment
process aimed at doubling their numbers at the time. The growing violence resulted in the the creation
of vigilante group Juarez Citizens command, causing government officials to fear further
violence with the addition of armed vigilantes in the mix. In 2008, the Mexican Army's Third Infantry
Company took over the fight from local authorities, and the city saw an increased military and
Federal Police presence to almost double the amount before 2009. Due to the joint efforts of the military,
Juarez and Federal police, and the local and federal governments, crime has begun to drop
as of January 2015, going from 130 murders per 100,000 people to 38. However, the drug war continues to be fought,
and foreign visitors are advised to exercise extreme caution, warned not to venture outside
the city limits out of fears of kidnapping. Number 14. Kabul, Afghanistan: The Afghan capital city,
Kabul has been the epicentre of the Afghan Civil War since the Communist coup in 1978. The entire nation has suffered through decades
of turmoil and political instability. After the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan in
response to the September 11th attacks, Kabul became the headquarters for the International
Security Assistance Force; this lead the city to become a major point of suicide attacks,
bombings and shootings of ISAF forces and Afghan citizens. To this day, Kabul remains unstable since
the replacement of ISAF with Resolute Support aimed at advising the Afghan National Security
Forces and local police in providing law and order without coalition assistance. The Taliban is still a danger in the country,
and many from the ANSF have defected to their ranks, bringing large quantities of weapons
and ammunition with them. IEDs and car bombs are still common, and as
recent as August 2015, an army convoy travelling through the city was bombed, killing 10 and
injuring over 60 people. Kabul's residence are under siege by extremists,
and with RS advisors scheduled to leave soon, Kabul and the rest of Afghanistan have an
uncertain future. The American and Canadian governments have
issued strict travel advisories on Kabul due to the violence, and it is strongly advised
not to visit the city for the foreseeable future. Number 13. Detroit, USA: Named the most dangerous city
in America in 2013 and 2014, Detroit was once the home of Motown and America's booming automotive
industry. Now, having faced the massive GM layoffs and
major recession, Detroit is a city slowly shrinking in population. With only a population 700,000, the violent
crime rate is a frightening 2,072 per 100,000 inhabitants, and a murder rate of 45 per 100,000. Former mayor Kwame Kilpatrick incited severe
controversy when he assaulted a police officer who was attempting to issue a subpoena to
Kitpatrick's sister; while there were no assault charges brought against him, he later plead
guilty to perjury, misconduct in office and obstruction of justice. Things didn't get better for Detroit when
in it became the largest city in American history to declare bankruptcy. Many of the crimes go unsolved due to a culture
against passing information to authorities, or snitching. Detroit is also known for its Devil's Night
on October 30 popular between the 1970s and 1990s when people would commit mass arson
throughout the city, which was depicted in the cult classic The Crow in 1994. To this day, the state and local government
have worked together to tackle the crime issue, and a planning and development strategy is
in the works to improve Detroit's falling infrastructure. Number 12. Guatemala City, Guatemala: A city with two
faces, Guatemala City one one hand is located in a beautiful valley rich with tourist friendly
culture, while on the other it is a place full of gang violence, robbery, and homicide. The tourist districts are have been eradicated
of daytime robbery due to the increased police presence, but purse snatching and pickpocketing
is still an issue, and thugs have robbed people outside of banks after they have withdrawn
money. Carjacking is also a major issue, and occur
mostly at night along with the other crimes the city is known for. The city and the country is also a major route
for drug traffickers making their way to the United States, leading to rivals fighting
over routes and attempting to disrupt each other's business. Gangs also extort the local businesses, and
many of the homicides are related to gang turf wars and the drug trade. Travellers are advised to use extra caution
with visiting the city and not to venture out alone at night, and to stay within the
tourist districts to avoid any trouble while they are there. Number 11. Karachi, Pakistan: The largest city in Pakistan
and third largest in the world, Karachi has also been the centre of various terrorist
attacks since the beginning of the War on Terror. While far away from the border with Afghanistan
– the area mostly associated with fighting between terrorists cells and the Pakistani
government – Karachi is still an area for attacks due to its size and importance in
Pakistan's economy and growth. On July 8, 2014, 10 members of the Taliban
dressed in military attire launched an assault on Karachi's Jinnah International Airport,
with automatic weapons, rocket-launchers and grenades; The following morning, Pakistani
forces killed 8 of the combatants, with the remaining two committing suicide via explosive
vests. The city of 23 million has become a hot bed
of crime, with over 2,700 murders happening in 2013. The perceived lawlessness of Karachi has led
militants to use the city as a stronghold, and take control of certain areas of the city.As
the War on Terror rages, it looks as if there is no end in sight for Pakistan's once centre
of hope for a long and prosperous future for the country. Number 10. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Home of Christ the
Redeemer and host of the 2016 Summer Olympics, Rio is still a relatively dangerous city. The city is surrounded by shanty districts
known as favelas, where crime is rampant for those who dare to venture in. Many of these favelas virtually exist outside
of the control of police and local government. Even in the so named “pacified” favelas,
police assistance can be somewhat delayed, especially at night, due to the high crime
rate. Crime around the city rises around Carnival
with the increase in tourists, which criminals prey on and are targeted with robberies, thefts
and muggings. Curiously, travel sites warn of random manhole
explosions occurring, and some hotels are notorious for having sky cameras for people
to film and blackmail tourist in exchange for not releasing the tapes. Travellers are warned to steer clear of the
favelas, avoid walking alone outside the tourist zones at night, and to thoroughly check hotel
rooms for anything suspicious. Other than that, Rio remains a highly recommended
tourist destination for travellers, and people can enjoy a wonderful vacation there, albeit
with extra caution to avoid any incidents. Number 9. Cape Town, South Africa: A large tourist destination
on the African continent, Cape Town still has its dark side. In 2014, the murder rate was 50.94 murders
per 100,000 people, giving it the highest murder rate in all of Africa outside of a
war zone. Gang related violence is high, resulting in
18% of incidents, and nearly one third are domestic violence related crimes. The crimes mostly occur in the outlying neighbourhoods
where the former apartheid regime segregated the so called “non-whites,” and researchers
have theorized much of the crime can be traced back to the oppressive white-minority rule
treating the majority population as lesser citizens. The city is also a large drug trafficking
area, with the gangs controlling the meth and heroine trade in South Africa; with a
high unemployment rate, many turn to gang activity to provide for themselves and their
families. The city is safe for tourists within the tourist
areas, but travel outside these districts is greatly discouraged, and extra caution
is highly recommended for those who decide to visit this otherwise beautiful city and
what it has to offer. Number 8. San Salvador, El Salvador: The capital of
this tiny Central American country, San Salvador has a homicide rate of 45 murders per 100,000;
for a city of 570,000 people, that's an alarming rate. For further emphasis on the issue, in the
first half of 2015, there were 2,200 murders. The source has been speculated to date back
to the civil war in the 1980s after guerrilla forces began sporadic attacks on the city. Studies trace most the murders back to the
large gang presence in the city, and the fighting between rivals MS-13 and Barrio 18; sadly,
many of those killed are civilians who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. The gangs biggest source of income is through
extortion, robberies and muggings, so many visitors will find themselves victims of theft
and murder. While authorities have been able to lower
the crime rate in 2011, with Districts 3 and 4 regarded as the safest in the country, crime
is still an issue, and many of these homicides remain unsolved. Number 7. Cali, Colombia: A city within a hotbed of
drug-terrorist activities, Cali is the centre of a drug rivalry between the Cali Cartel
and Los Urbanos, both of which have their roots in the city. Colombian magazine Semana claims a total of
1,700 assassins working in the city for the two cartels and various gangs. The marxist militia FARC has a large presence
in Cali, with over 1,000 members residing there. The homicide rate in 2014 was 68.45 per 100,000,
almost three times higher than the murder rate for all of Colombia, with Comuna 20 having
174 murders in 2011 alone. A joint effort between the Colombian Army
and metropolitan police to step up action against the militias and drug cartels to decrease
the violence, and the municipal government increased the amount of CCTV coverage in the
city in order to tackle and deter further crimes.The US State Department has a travel
warning on Cali due to the crime and terrorist activity, and tourists are advised to stay
within the tourist districts and not to venture out alone at night due to the danger of robbery
and kidnapping. However, Cali's crime rate is continually
dropping each year, and the local and federal governments show no sign of letting up on
the crack downs. Number 6. Mogadishu, Somalia: Located in the southern
end of Somalia, Mogadishu has shifted between the control of the federal government and
the various war lords and militia groups attempting to take control of the country. The peak of the violence occurred in 1993
with the famous Black Hawk Down incident, when an American-led UN mission led to a raid
to arrest several war lords taking up residence in Somalia, and resulted in the loss of two
Black Hawk helicopters and 20 UN peacekeepers were killed; after the incident, the UN mission
withdrew from Somalia. Ever since, the country has been in a state
of anarchy, and various groups have come and gone throughout the civil war, and for a period
between 2006 and 2009, Mogadishu was under the control of the Islamic Courts Union. Mogadishu was the site of three major battles
in the Somali Civil War between 2007 and 2008 alone, and has been the target for numerous
terrorist attacks in the past few years. As of August 2011, Mogadishu is in control
of the Somali government, but Al-Qaeda affiliated groups still threaten the safety of residents
and foreigners within the city. The US State Department lists Mogadishu as
extremely dangerous, and advises against all travel to the city. The most desperate of residents in the city
resort to theft and petty crime to make money, and all travel through the streets is recommended
to be done with an armed escort. Number 5. Bagdad, Iraq: A city suffering from decades
of war and civil unrest, Baghdad has been the epicentre of the ongoing conflict since
the 2003 Invasion by American and Coalition forces in 2003. Ba'athist Loyalists and fighters of the Islamic
State currently have claims on the city, leading to a power struggle in an attempt to take
advantage of the instability within Iraq, while government forces desperately try to
maintain control and bring solidarity to an area rife with sectarian violence. Insurgents remain in the city, blending into
the background waiting to pull off another atrocious act on the many regular citizens
who live and work within the city. Baghdad is riddled with IEDs and antipersonnel
mines, which have sadly taken several lives, including small children. Suicide bombings are also common, with an
attack by the Islamic State taking the lives of 7 people in November 2015. As the bombing campaign by coalition forces
and ground campaign by Iraqi and Kurdish ground forces against the Islamic State intensifies,
the violence in Baghdad appears to be a long way from being solved, and all travel is to
there strongly discouraged. Number 4. Acapulco, Mexico: Once a paradise for tourism,
Acapulco sadly couldn't be spared from the escalating drug war. Since 2006, the city has seen various gunfights
between government forces and the various cartels fighting over the area, and the violence
has increased since the death of Beltran Leyva cartel leader Arturio Beltran Leyva has caused
a power struggle within the gang, resulting in a split and pseudo-civil war. In February 2013, six Spanish men were tied
up and robbed, while they helplessly looked on as their captures gang raped the six Spanish
women in the group near the outskirts of Acapulco; so far, there have been no arrests for the
incident. Travel to the resort city is still popular,
but tourists are advised to not leave food and drink unattended due to a string of robberies
against drugged persons, and it is also recommended to avoid back roads if one hires a car due
to potential kidnappings. It is best to keep up to date with your government
travel advisory of updates on the situation, as well as tips should you decide to travel
there for your next vacation. Number 3. Caracas, Venezuela: The capital of this South
American country, Caracas has one of the highest murder rates in the world. While initially listed as having a rate of
116 homicides per 100,000 people, reports showed the Venezuelan government miscounted
the city's population, and it was corrected to 71 per 100,000 in 2010. Crime mostly occurs in the lower-income neighbourhoods
covering the hills of Caracas, and tourists are advised to remain clear of these districts,
as they are designated dangerous at all times. The local authorities have been criticized
due to most of the homicides remaining unsolved, and have been accused of censoring the reports
of violence in the country. Kidnappings and muggings are also at record
highs, with approximately 1,150 kidnappings in 2011 alone, many of which go unreported
due to allegations of authorities being involved. Caracas is also supposedly a destination for
human trafficking according to the US State Department, who further accuses the Venezuelan
government of not cooperating with efforts to eliminate such crimes. The US State Department and Government of
Canada have placed a travel advisory on Venezuela due to the high crime rate, and travellers
are warned to visit Caracas with caution. Number 2. Mosul, Iraq: The third largest city in Iraq,
Mosul is located in the Nineveh Governate near Syria and Turkey. The city is currently under occupation by
the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, or ISIL, and they have quickly implemented
Sharia Law. The city is now full of religious prosecution,
cultural destruction and misogynistic ideology reflecting the fundamentalist views of the
terror state. The Canadian based RINJ Foundation has reported
wide spread rape to the point of genocidal proportions, and the city is now the centre
of a large slave market for women and girls as sex slaves to be sold to slave traders. Mosul is also the scene of a large bombing
campaign by coalition forces due to the importance it poses to ISIL, and the Kurdish Peshmergia
are slowly closing in on the city in an attempt to surround and cut of ISIL forces, meaning
urban warfare is inevitable; because of this, many of the supply roads have been cut off,
meaning food and water is becoming scarce. Travellers are strongly advised to avoid Mosul
at all costs due to the intensity of the conflict there, but it is predicted once Mosul falls,
ISILs hold in Iraq will quickly whither back across into Syria, and possibly mean an end
to the Islamic State. Number 1. San Pedro Sula, Honduras: This city stands
out amongst the rest of the entries on this list; it had the single highest homicide rate
in 2015, with 171.2 per 100,000.much higher than the national rate of 90.4. Local morgues have stated they are having
a hard time of conducting autopsies fast enough to keep up with the amount of bodies coming
in. Many of the bodies go unidentified due to
fear of gang reprisals against the family members and end up in mass graves, and 97%
of the homicides go unsolved. The issue in crime is blamed on poor police
training, corruption and lack of resources to conduct proper forensic analysis. Gangs are prevalent in the city, and often
extort “protection money” out of local businesses, with huge reprisals for those
who refuse to pay. Much of the violence is caused by the ongoing
rivalry between MS13 and Barrio 18 over control of the drug trade. San Pedro Sula has a high orphan rate due
to the violence, and many orphaned children end up recruited into the gangs through extortion
of the schools, threatening teachers and selling sex in exchange for taking children into their
ranks. The issue has led to a number of Honduran
children travelling all the way to the US-Mexican border to try and start a new live in the
US, but as many as 18,000 are caught and deported back to Honduras. San Pedro Sula's gangs are also notorious
for their violence against members of the LGBT community, and often pressure transgender
sex workers to sell drugs, with punishment for those who do not meet the quota. Travel is discouraged due to the unsafe conditions,
and it appears little is being done.
