Snapshot 21 - 27 May 2013
In Syria, fighting has been intensifying around the opposition-held stronghold of Qusayr and heavy casualties are reported as the Syrian army has allegedly seized about two-thirds of the city. In addition, fighting continues in 12 of 14 governorates, with the exception of Tartous and As-Sweida. The UN estimates that over 6.8 million people are in need of humanitarian aid in Syria. A recent Joint Rapid Needs Assessment in Northern Syria (J-RANS II) revealed that more than 10.5 million people in these areas live with limited access to essential goods and services, especially lacking access to health care. While an estimated 4.25 million people are internally displaced, of which 1.25 million are concentrated in Aleppo and 705,200 in rural Damascus, the number of Syrians registered or awaiting registration in host countries has surpassed 1.5 million.
Over past week, rebels from March 23 Movement and the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo fought north of Goma, the regional capital of North Kivu in Democratic Republic of Congo. On 24 May, both parties declared a temporary ceasefire to allow UN-chief Ban Ki-Moon’s visit to the conflict-affected area. Violence and shelling of IDP camps next to Goma has forced some 30,000 displaced people who were living in the camps of Mugunga and Bulengo to flee the area.
Military operations between warring parties have intensified in Sudan. According to an estimate released last week by OCHA, some 300,000 people have been forcibly displaced in Darfur since the beginning of this year as a result of inter-tribal fighting and conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and armed rebel groups. In South Darfur, clashes between Al-Gimir and Bani Halba tribes resulted in at least 23 people being killed and some 51 others injured. The violence led to the burning of Katela town of the Al-Gimir tribe and to the displacement of its some 20,000 residents. Meanwhile, in South Kordofan, east of the capital Kadugli, fighting between armed groups of the Sudanese Revolutionary Front and the Sudan Armed Forces escalated over the weekend. To date, information on casualties is not yet available as both sides are claiming victory.
The crisis currently unfolding in the Central African Republic is now affecting the entire population of the country, some 4.6 million people, of which 2.3 million are children. According to UNICEF, the poor security situation across the country is severely hindering planned food distributions and other essential supplies from reaching beneficiaries. In addition, access is largely limited to towns and populations along main roads as of mid-May. Throughout the country, human rights abuses committed by Seleka rebel fighters, loyal to the new authorities, are reported by international organizations.
On 17 May the President of Namibia declared a national drought emergency and called for assistance from the international community. As reported by WFP, 331,000 people food insecure (14% of the country’s total population), 450,000 moderately food insecure, according to Emergency Food Security Assessment carried out from 8-20 April 2013.
Updated: 27/05/2013, Next update: 03/06/2013
