WASHINGTON, D.C. — Around 50 South Sudanese families are trapped amid heavy fighting in the Syrian capital, Damascus, with neither the government in Juba nor the U.N. refugee office stepping in to help them, one of the stranded South Sudanese said Friday.

"Not even one group has reached out to us. The situation is getting worse," Emmanuel Sebastian said in a phone interview.

"Our country doesn't even know there are South Sudanese people in Syria. Many of us could die just like that and no one would even talk about it," Sebastian said.

Syria - As 80 Filipinas and one Vietnamese flew out of Lebanon's Rafic Hariri airport on Wednesday (30/1/2013) IOM has expressed concern about the situation of thousands of other foreign migrant workers believed to still be inside Syria.

"Many have no means to leave the areas where they are working and risk becoming trapped. Others have no documents and therefore don't have the same level of legal protection accorded to citizens," says IOM Regional Coordinator for Syria, Othman Belbesi.

Excellent logistics facilities

UNHCR Dubai enjoys excellent logistics facilities. A seamless supply chain by sea and air is ensured through proximity to Jebel Ali, the Middle East's biggest and busiest seaport. From Jebel Ali, cargo vessels sail weekly to ports worldwide including remote destinations. Also, six international airports are located within a three hour driving radius, where charter planes can be deployed in 24 to 48 hours. Dubai's logistics services are renowned for their professionalism and cost efficiency.

DUBAI, 31 December 2012 (IRIN) - The Middle East continued to boil in Year 2 of what was once an Arab “Spring” with the ever-worsening conflict in Syria, toxic spillover into Lebanon, deadly clashes in Egypt, proliferation of weapons in Libya, assassinations and bomb blasts in Yemen, emboldened insurgents in Iraq and continued protests in Jordan.

While much of the world has been consumed by quickly changing political and security developments in the region, longer-term humanitarian issues have also been simmering under the surface - and sometimes in plain - but neglected - view.

R2P Monitor:

Provides background on populations at risk of mass atrocity crimes, with particular emphasis on key events and actors and their connection to the threat, or commission, of genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity.

Offers analysis of the country’s past history in relation to mass atrocity crimes; the factors that have enabled their possible commission, or that prevent their resolution; and the receptivity of the situation to positive influences that would assist in preventing further crimes.

The Security Council’s work programme for November will be packed not only with discussions of difficult situations around the world, but also with business not completed at the end of last month, the Permanent Representative of India, which holds the body’s presidency for the month, told correspondents at Headquarters this afternoon.

Suisse - L’Office fédéral suisse des migrations (ODM) a fait don de 300 000 dollars pour financer les opérations d’évacuation des travailleurs migrants les plus vulnérables pris dans la crise syrienne. L’OIM utilisera les fonds pour évacuer jusqu’à 250 ressortissants de pays tiers extrêmement vulnérables. Il s’agit notamment de mineurs, de personnes âgées, de femmes enceintes, de personnes détenues en raison de leur statut irrégulier, de cas médicaux et de ressortissants de pays qui n’ont aucune représentation diplomatique en Syrie.

Executive Committee of the High Commissioner’s Programme

Sixty-second session

Geneva, 1-5 October 2012

A. Situational analysis including new developments

09/25/2012 13:36 GMT

UNITED NATIONS, Sept 24, 2012 (AFP) - UN leader Ban Ki-moon said Tuesday that the Syrian civil war is a "calamity" that now threatens world peace and demands action by the divided UN Security Council.

Ban told the opening of the UN General Assembly that the Syria conflict "is a regional calamity with global ramifications" that needs action by the Security Council.