DEATHS FROM ARMED CONFLICTS SURGE 37 PCT IN PAST YEAR, REPORT FINDS

Sun 15 December 2024:

Global deaths from armed conflicts rose by 37 percent between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024, reaching nearly 200,000, the British think tank International Institute for Strategic Studies said.

Its Armed Conflict Survey 2024 released on Thursday revealed a staggering 315 percent increase in fatalities in the Middle East and North Africa, driven mainly by a surge in violence in the Palestinian Territories, where deaths skyrocketed from 321 to nearly 40,000.

The report also highlighted a 17-percent rise in the fatality rate per event, indicating more intense and lethal conflicts.

The findings “portray a world where inter-state conflict is once again on the rise with the Middle East at the heart of global insecurity,” it said.

The think tank also noted that Western support for Israel had fueled regional tensions, escalating the situation to an international scale.

Armed conflicts worldwide are driven by political, ethnic, and economic tensions, impacting millions. In Ukraine, the war with Russia has led to widespread destruction and a major humanitarian crisis. The Middle East remains volatile with Syria’s ongoing civil war, Yemen’s proxy war, and the long-standing Israel-Palestine conflict.

In Africa, conflicts in Sudan, the Sahel region, and Ethiopia are fueled by weak governance, ethnic rivalries, and extremist groups like Boko Haram and al-Shabaab. Asia faces instability with Myanmar’s civil unrest, Afghanistan’s fragile security, and tensions along the India-China border. Terrorism remains a global threat, with groups like ISIS and al-Qaeda destabilizing regions.

These conflicts result in mass displacement, food insecurity, and strained international relations. Peace efforts include diplomacy, humanitarian aid, and UN peacekeeping, but solutions are often hindered by deep-rooted grievances and external power struggles.

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