Embassies issue Y2K warnings
Embassies are beginning to warn their citizens to prepare for possible problems with their telephones, electricity and health services due to the year 2000 computer bug.
The British Embassy last week became the latest embassy to inform its citizens of the possible problems. The Australian Embassy also issued a warning last month.
"There is a risk of limited disruption in some areas of the economy, notably the energy, health and telecommunications sectors," said the notice written by the British Embassy consular section, which was circulated to the British community here.
"We want to warn them and let them know they need to be prepared for possible problems," said Monika Gadzala, the economic officer at the British Embassy and a co-author of the embassy's report on Poland's preparedness for the so-called Y2K bug (www.fco.gov.uk/travel).
The Y2K bug stems from old computer software that defined years using only two digits rather than four (for example, "99" rather than "1999"). Computer analysts fear that some systems will shut down when Jan. 1, 2000, arrives, as some computer systems may interpret the date as "00." Those shutdowns could disrupt many sectors of the economy, such as telephone service, utilities and transportation.
The Australian Embassy issued its Y2K warning on Oct. 18, sending notice to all Australians registered with the embassy, said Ann Quinane-Pys, first secretary and consul at the embassy. The warning was also posted on line on the Australian ministry of foreign affairs web site, (www.dfat.gov.au/y2k).
"Australians are advised that there may be a risk of disruption in the power, telecommunications, health and local transport sectors," the notice said.
Other embassies have not issued warnings themselves, but are relying on the warnings issued by their home country foreign ministries.
