New York, April 28 (QNA) - United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres confirmed that he is closely monitoring the situation in Mali and expressed deep concern following attacks in several locations across the country.

The UN Secretary-General strongly condemned the violence in Mali and stressed the need to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a news conference.

Dujarric added that the Secretary-General called for "coordinated international support to address the evolving threat of violent extremism and terrorism in the Sahel, and to meet urgent humanitarian needs." The statement added that Guterres "reiterates his call for robust security coordination and collaboration across the region."

On the humanitarian front, the UN spokesperson said the situation in Mali remains severe, driven by escalating insecurity, blockades and access constraints.

Before this latest crisis, some 6.4 million human people in Mali needed humanitarian aid, while 1.5 million faced acute food insecurity, Dujarric added.

He emphasized that response is also critically underfunded, with the $578 million Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan only 13% funded, meaning that $76 million is in the bank.

The Malian government previously announced the killing of Defense Minister Sadio Camara in an attack on his residence, coinciding with attacks carried out by armed groups targeting several military and civilian areas in the country, including the capital Bamako, which resulted in deaths and injuries. (QNA)