Snapshot 06 - 13 2013
In Syria, fighting between the Government and opposition groups continued in all governorates apart from Tartous and As-Sweida. Between 9-13 May, Syrian regime forces have reasserted control over the towns on the border with Jordan, including Khirbet Ghazal, Dalaa, Sahem Golan and Tal Shihab over the past four days. Control of Khirbet Ghazaleh is likely to enable Damascus to regain control of an international transit route. Currently, the Syrian army is pressing rebels in Central Homs province, surrounding the strategic rebel stronghold of Quasar. Approximately 6.8 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance in the country while some 4.25 million people are displaced and over 1.44 million people have fled into neighbouring countries.
The humanitarian crisis spawned by the power struggle 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. Throughout the country and in the capital Bangui, human rights abuses committed by Seleka rebel fighters, loyal to the new authorities, are reported by international organizations. According to UNHCR, an estimated 49,000 people have fled CAR to seek refuge in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Chad and Cameroon.
Military operations between warring parties have intensified in Sudan’s South Kordofan. As a result of intensifying fighting between the governmental troops and the SPLM-N in early May, an estimated 40,000 people have been displaced in the region over the past two weeks. In Abyei, an area contested between Sudan and South Sudan, the killing of a tribal leader on 4 May is putting at risk the improvement of the relations between Juba and Khartoum.
A Red Storm Alert has been issued with regard to the Tropical Cyclone Mahasen that is currently moving across the Indian Ocean towards Bangladesh and Myanmar. The storm, monitored with signal level 4, is expected to reach land on 16 May. According to OCHA, in its current path the storm is expected to hit just south of Chittagong, Bangladesh but could, depending upon its final trajectory, bring life-threatening conditions for millions of people in northeast India, Bangladesh and Myanmar’s Rakhine State.
Updated: 13/05/2013, Next update: 21/05/2013
Please note that the next update of the GEO will be on Tuesday the 21st of May.
