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Executive Summary

05/20/2013 22:59 GMT

by Ammar Karim and Salam Faraj

BAGHDAD, May 21, 2013 (AFP) - Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki announced an overhaul of Iraq's security strategy Monday as a fresh surge of violence killed dozens of civilians and police officers, bringing the month's toll to 366.

"We are about to make changes in the high and middle positions of those responsible for security, and the security strategy," Maliki told journalists in Baghdad Monday. Cabinet would discuss the matter on Tuesday, he said.

05/20/2013 03:32 GMT

by Mohamad Ali Harissi

BAGHDAD, May 20, 2013 (AFP) - A "war on mosques" -- deadly attacks by militants on Sunni mosques and Shiite places of worship called husseiniyahs -- using weapons ranging from bombs to mortar rounds is raging in Iraq.

Dozens of attacks this year have stirred already-simmering sectarian tensions between Iraq's Sunni minority and Shiite majority, and led some would-be worshippers to stay away.

By Apostolis Fotiadis

Apostolis Fotiadis interviews Panos Moumtzis, UNHCR regional coordinator for Syrian refugees.

ATHENS, May 18 2013 (IPS) - With no end in sight for the ongoing two-year war in Syria, the ensuing humanitarian crisis continues to escalate, with over 1 million refugees having fled to neighbouring countries and at least another 3 million displaced within Syria.

Highlights

Nearly half of the 6.8 million people affected by the crisis in Syria are children. Over 1.5 million Syrians have already fled into neighboring countries. All are in urgent need of assistance. During the reporting period UNICEF and partners scaled up efforts in support of national immunization campaigns, ensuring that children across all affected countries continue to be vaccinated against preventable diseases.

The number of Syrian civilians who have fled their country to escape conflict has passed the 1.5 million mark, according to an announcement made by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) on the 17th of May. The refugee influx continues on a daily basis and is worsening an already precarious situation, on top of particularly difficult weather conditions.

This document provides complex coverage of global events from 07 – 13 May 2013 with hyperlinks to source material highlighted in blue and underlined in the text. For more information on the topics below or other issues pertaining to events in the region, contact the members of the Complex Coverage Team or visit our website at www.cimicweb.org.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Iraq 1
Mali 2
Syria 3
IED/Demining 5

This May 14, the Republic of Iraq ratified the treaty against cluster munitions. An important step in the fight against these weapons because Iraq is one of the most contaminated countries in the world. Accession to the Treaty involves the destruction of these weapons of death and the assistance for the thousands of victims.

The Republic of Iraq has ratified the Convention on Cluster Munitions, after depositing its instrument of ratification on 14 May, in New-York, at the United Nations. Iraq became the 83rd State parties of the Convention.

The fact that more than 1.5 million people have registered or have appointments with UNHCR means the actual number is much higher. The increasingly widening gap between the needs and resources available is a growing challenge.