In Syria, fighting between the Government and opposition groups continued in all governorates apart from Tartous and As-Sweida. Following a large scale offensive by the Government initiated on 26 April, heavy fighting has been reported in and around Damascus. Clashes in Eastern Ghouta forced the closure of Damascus international airport. Approximately 6.8 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance in the country while some 4.25 million people are displaced and over 1.4 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, clashes between armed factions and lootings is increasing insecurity that is significantly hampering humanitarian access. As of 3 May, 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 Darfur and South Kordofan. In Southern Darfur, renewed tribal fighting between the Gimir and Beni Halba tribes over land ownership and military operations of the Government forces against rebel groups have led to the displacement of thousands of people over the past few weeks. In South Kordofan, although ceasefire negotiations between the SPLM-N rebel group and Khartoum are ongoing, renewed fighting between the official forces and a yet unidentified insurgent faction has erupted over the last week.
Last Updated: 06/05/2013 Next Update: 13/05/2013