Good post. I hope rebel is evac'ed ASAP. One thing to consider, which I've told relatives of mine when they've travelled abroad: keep some CASH handy. In many places, US Dollars are still considered better than local currency. I read of someone a few years back that a bit of cash helped his egress from some 3rd World country.
The IAF woke me up with their latest presents to the Lebanese, so I had to check back in. Several Freepers have asked me to write a book-et about international travel (with an appendix about travel to war zones). Entry on currency. Cash is king. If you don't have it, you are toast. At the minimum, have an ATM. I was working with a Canadian colleague who "doesn't trust ATMs." He ran out of cash so he asked me to get some using my ATM card. ATMs are almost universal. Don't travel overseas without TWO. I have heard horror stories over and over about an ATM eating a card. If you have two, which means two different banks, you are covered. This also means having two bank accounts, preferably at major banks: Citi, BAC, Chase. I carry an extra wallet with about $100 equivalent in each of the major currencies: USD, GBP, Euro, JY. But when it comes to the crunch USD rules. I have never had dollars refused anywhere in the world. Discount yes. Turned down no.