Beirut, 3 May 2013 – The opportunity for a moment of peace and quiet has all but vanished in Damascus. As violence in the 4,000 year-old city escalates, accompanied by acute shortages of daily commodities, it becomes harder to enjoy the simple things in life, much less a family meal.

Bogota, 2 May 2013 – Significant increases in conflict between paramilitary, guerrilla and government forces have left more than 5,200 people displaced last year in Buenaventura, a district in southeastern region of Valle del Cauca. Despite increased forced displacement, the state has failed to guarantee assistance to the victims of violence in the region, according to a report by the Jesuit Refugee Service, Buenaventura: An Unanswered Humanitarian Crisis.

Beyrouth, 29 avril 2013 - La route pour le village libanais de Kafar Zabad est étroite, pleine de trous et de flaques d'eau profondes. Kafar Zabad, qui était autrefois un village tranquille dans la plaine de la Bekaa, près de la frontière syrienne, accueille maintenant 150 familles syriennes qui ont fui les violences en cours dans leur pays.

On Friday 22nd March a massive fire broke out in the Ban Mae Surin refugee Temporary Shelter located in Khun Yuam District, Mae Hong Son Province. The incident left 37 dead and others seriously injured, and completely ravaged two sections of the camp destroying the homes and limited possessions of 2,300 refugees (more than half of the entire population). This situation report presents the joint humanitarian response, up‐dates on the priority requirements, and indicates the agreed actions.

GeneralUpdate on Situation:

Beirut, 8 April 2013 – Thousands of people living in the predominantly Kurdish neighbourhood of Sheikh Maqsoud (Aleppo) were displaced last week following a surge in violence in the northern city.

According to Mahdi*, JRS Aleppo outreach team member, many Kurdish residents have gone to their home villages outside of the city, and Christians have fled into other Christian areas in Aleppo. However, Mahdi expressed particular concern for the fate of those who have nowhere familiar or safe to go.

Goma, le 27 mars 2013 – Des grenades non explosées, des balles et d'autres munitions inutilisées ont été trouvées le mois dernier dans des égouts utilisés par des écoles de la capitale du Nord Kivu. Pour les élèves de la région l'école représente une menace et non plus un lieu protecteur.

Cinq mois après le début de la crise à Goma, les rebelles du Mouvement du 23 mars (M23) avaient alors contrôlé la ville pendant 12 jours, le Service Jésuite des Réfugiés s'inquiète pour la sécurité des populations civiles, en particulier les enfants.

Goma, 27 March 2013 – Unexploded grenades, bullets and other unused munitions were found last month in sewage drains used by some schools in the North Kivu capital. For students in the area, school is not a place of protection, but a threat to their lives.

Almost five months after the Goma crisis, when rebels from the March 23 Movement (M23) took control of the city for 12 days, the Jesuit Refugee Service expresses concern for the safety of the civilian population, in particular children.

Bujumbura, 15 mars 2013 – A la fin du mois de janvier, le Service Jésuite des Réfugié a fermé ses projets au Ruanda après avoir accompagné, pendant dix-sept ans, les quelque 40.000 réfugiés originaires de la République Démocratique du Congo, mettant ainsi un terme à l'un des plus anciens projets du JRS dans le monde.

Bangkok, 22 March 2013 — Last month Thailand's estimated two million irregular migrant workers were granted a four-month extension, until April 2013, for work permits as they wait for their national governments to verify their nationalities.

Although this is a welcome step as a temporary measure, after the new deadline passes, irregular migrants will face the same risks of arrest and deportation as they do currently, according to JRS Thailand Migrant Outreach Officer, Kohnwilai Teppunkoonngam.