Mahamat Annadif, the Special Representative to UN Secretary-General and Head of UN Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), on Wednesday, says security situation in Mali has deteriorated.
Annadif told Security Council in New York that the situation, particularly in the centre of the country, had deteriorated, with a number of victims, including peacekeepers, on the rise.
He highlighted the need for MINUSMA soldiers to be adequately equipped to face challenges of the situation in the country.
He, however, said trust between signatories to the peace agreement had improved over the past three months, a few months before presidential and legislative elections in that country.
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The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said needs in Mali were increasing as a result of conflict and insecurity.
The OCHA added that conflicts and insecurity were spreading from the north to the more populated central regions of the country.
Some 4.3 million people were estimated to need food assistance compared with 4.1 million in late 2017, according to the UN agency.
It indicated that the figure was the highest level of needs in Mali since the 2011-2012 food insecurity crisis in the Sahel.
(NAN)
