Snapshot 08 – 15 October
In Syria, heavy fighting is ongoing in Rural Damascus, Dar’a, Aleppo, Idleb and Homs, with government forces making gains in Rural Damascus while the opposition has won ground in Dar’a. Despite the call of al-Qaeda’s leader for opposition fighters to unite, inter-group fighting has escalated in Aleppo over control for neighbourhoods. Meanwhile, the Syrian National Council announced that it did not intend to participate in the proposed Geneva II peace talks.
Tropical Cyclone Phailin made landfall on India’s eastern coast on 12 October, causing widespread material damage and affecting 9 million people across 14,500 villages in the coastal areas of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.
A 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit the Philippines, mainly affecting the eastern provinces of Bohol and Cebu, on 15 October. The quake and several powerful aftershocks killed at least 67 people and affected at least 440,000 people to date.
Heavy rains since the third week of September have led to floods affecting 17 provinces throughout the northwest and along the Mekong River in central and southern Cambodia. To date, 134 people were killed and over 1,737,000 people affected by the flooding. Typhoon Nari, which hit Vietnam on 15 October, will most likely increase water levels further in the coming days.
Following a period of uneven rainfall and a locust plague in Madagascar, this year’s reduced harvest resulted in severe food insecurity that is now affecting up to 4 million people and putting another 9.6 million at risk, according to FAO.
Last Updated: 15/10/2013 Next Update: 22/10/2013
