Atrocity Alert is a weekly publication by the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect highlighting and updating situations where populations are at risk of, or are enduring, mass atrocity crimes.

Syria

Increased fighting around Aleppo and other areas in Syria is endangering a tentative cessation of hostilities that started on 27 February. During the cessation, the country has seen an overall reduction in the level of violence and some desperately needed humanitarian aid has been delivered to besieged areas. Meanwhile, the UN Special Envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura, has been mediating peace talks in Geneva. 

Yemen

After more than a year of intense fighting in Yemen, over 3,200 civilians have been killed and an estimated 2.4 million people have been forcibly displaced. Parties on both sides of the conflict have violated the temporary ceasefire that began on 10 April, resulting in a delayed start to peace negotiations that were due to commence on 18 April in Kuwait. It is imperative that all parties respect the ceasefire in order to make progress towards ending the conflict.

South Sudan

Eight months after the signing of a peace agreement, sporadic fighting continues in South Sudan. The failure to establish a transitional government, delays in the return of rebel leader and transitional Vice President Riek Machar to Juba, and ongoing ceasefire violations imperil the peace process. These challenges increase the risk of renewed attacks on civilians, inter-communal violence, and violations of UN protection sites.