The UN refugee agency says that, with armed violence raging in Aleppo, thousands of residents are seeking shelter in schools, mosques and public buildings. National associations report about 300 displaced families per day in need of urgent assistance, with growing numbers from Aleppo fleeing to Turkey.

The UN Supervision Mission in Syria is deeply concerned about the intense fighting in Aleppo, which spiked in the southeast neighbourhoods. Observers confirm that the opposition is in possession of heavy weapons, including tanks. Exchanges of fire and, yesterday, firing from a fighter aircraft, were reported.

With “military logic winning the day” in Syria’s 16-month-old conflict and the Security Council deadlocked over how to address it, the 15-member body would likely cancel the United Nations observer mission to that country and seek consensus on a new resolution focused on humanitarian aid for the 3 million Syrians in need of emergency relief, the representative of France, which hold’s the Council’s rotating presidency for this month, said this afternoon.

With “military logic winning the day” in Syria’s 16-month-old conflict and the Security Council deadlocked over how to address it, the 15-member body would likely cancel the United Nations observer mission to that country and seek consensus on a new resolution focused on humanitarian aid for the 3 million Syrians in need of emergency relief, the representative of France, which hold’s the Council’s rotating presidency for this month, said this afternoon.

The Secretary-General told the General Assembly today that the Syrian conflict is a test of everything that the United Nations stands for. He said that despite acceptance of the six-point plan, endorsed by the Security Council, both the Government and the opposition continue to rely on weapons, not diplomacy.

The Secretary-General welcomes the deal reached by the Governments of Sudan and South Sudan on oil and financial arrangements. He regrets, however, that they have not met the 2 August deadline set by the Security Council in endorsing the African Peace and Security Council Road Map, and urges them to muster the necessary political will to resolve all outstanding issues.

The Secretary-General has conveyed a message to the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, which is meeting in Kampala today, saying he is deeply concerned about the security conditions caused by the violent activities of the M23 group of mutineers and other national and foreign armed groups. He says the worsening situation also poses a threat to stability in the wider Great Lakes region.

The Secretary-General discussed Mali with the Security Council this morning, saying that he is extremely concerned about reports that armed groups in the north are committing serious human rights violations, including summary executions of civilians, rapes and torture. He encouraged the Council to consider targeted travel and financial sanctions against individuals or groups in Mali engaged in such terrorist, religious extremist or criminal activities.

Ian Martin, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Libya, has welcomed the peaceful transfer of authority from the National Transitional Council to the newly elected National Congress. He warmly congratulated the Libyans on the peaceful and democratic transfer of power, which is not only a first for the country but an inspiration for others.

The Secretary-General will be leaving New York this afternoon for a visit to the Republic of Korea and Timor-Leste. In the Republic of Korea, he will visit the southern city of Yeosu, where he will take part in the closing ceremony for the 2012 Expo and speak at an international conference on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.