Heavy fighting continued across Syria over the past week with increased fighting in the capital Damascus. Fierce fighting was reported from the eastern and north-eastern areas of the capital, as well as the Yarmuk Palestinian refugee camp and Qadam district. The month of March was the deadliest in Syria's two-year conflict, with more than 6,000 people killed. The number of Syrian refugees continued to rise, amounting to a total of 1,230,822 as of 2 April, according to UNHCR.
The risk of asymmetric attacks by Islamist militants remains high in the main northern towns in Mali. Islamist militants launched an attack on Timbuktu penetrating the city centre on 30 March. French forces have deployed to Timbuktu to repel the Islamist fighters.
In Central African Republic, the security situation is tense as the Seleka Rebel coalition took up arms against the Government and seized control of the capital. The security situation in Bangui is reported as unpredictable, with widespread looting and sporadic gunfire. According to the UN, an estimated 1,5 million 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.
A fresh wave of displacement was reported last week in north-western Pakistan following an escalation of hostilities between rival militant groups. At least 43,000 people were displaced from Khyber Agency to safer grounds in Peshawar, Kohat, and towards the camps of New Durrani in Kurram Agency and Jalozai camp in Nowshera District.
