As the conflict in Syria entered its third year, intense fighting was reported across the country, in particular in Damascus, Homs, Aleppo, Idlib, and the area stretching between Damascus and the Golan Heights. The number of Syrian refugees continued to rise, amounting to a total of 1,129,019 as of 18 March.
French and African troops continued their offensive in the Adrar des Ifoghas mountains in northern Mali, where rebels have regrouped. Meanwhile, the risk of reprisal attacks remains high in the main northern towns and aid activities in parts of the north are limited due to insecurity.
In Central African Republic, an armed faction of the Seleka rebel coalition attacked Gambo and Bangassou, two southern towns on the border with the DRC in a continued breach of the recent peace accord. 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.
Floods in Mozambique have cumulatively affected 478,892 people and displaced some 186,238 people as of 11 March, according to OCHA. The number of affected people has thus doubled from 243,671 people as of 22 February since the beginning of the rainy season in October 2012. The majority have been affected since January 2013.
