UN Security Council warns of crisis in Sahel

The UN Security Council is calling for urgent action to address insecurity and humanitarian challenges in the Sahel region of Africa. The Sahel, the northern region of Africa which borders the Sahara, has long suffered from instability. In a statement on Monday, the United Nations Security Council said the situation is further complicated by the presence of armed and terrorist groups, as well as the proliferation of weapons.
The president of the Council, United Kingdom ambassador Mark Lyall Grant urged the international community to take note of the growing crisis in the region.
"The Security Council expresses its concern over the fragile security and humanitarian situation in the region and notes that it is being exacerbated by drought, food shortages and the return of thousands of returnees following the Libyan crisis and other crises in the region,” he said. “The Security Council was also informed that millions of people in the Sahel region are suffering from that crisis, forcing thousands to migrate to less affected neighbouring countries."
The Security Council also reiterated its strong condemnation of the recent seizure of power in Mali by mutinous troops.
It called on them to ``cease all violence and return to their barracks'' and allow the country to go ahead with previously scheduled elections.
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