Intense fighting continued across Syria over the past week, in particular in and around Damascus, Homs, Aleppo, Raqqa, Idlib, Homs, and in the area stretching between Damascus and the Golan Heights. The number of Syrian refugees continued to rise, amounting to a total of 1,175,915 as of 25 March, according to UNHCR.
Heavy fighting was reported in the city of Gao in northern Mali. The risk of asymmetric attacks by Islamist militants remains high in the main northern towns. Meanwhile, French and African troops continued their offensive in the Adrar des Ifoghas Mountains in northern Mali, where rebels have regrouped.
Heavy rainfall caused major flooding in the department of Chocó in north-western Colombia, affecting at least 56,770 people, or 11,200 families, according to the Colombian Government.
Three days of violent riots and clashes between Muslims and Buddhists erupted in the town of Meikhtile in central Myanmar, displacing an estimated 9,000 people and leaving more than 30 people dead. Extensive material damage was reported on houses and religious buildings.
In Central African Republic, the security situation deteriorated over the past week as the Seleka Rebel coalition took up arms against the government and seized control of the capital. According to the UN, an estimated 1,500,000 people are estimated to be affected by the current crisis in the Seleka controlled areas, and have been without access to basic services for over two months.
