2024 Marks Highest Number of Armed Conflicts Since World War II
Research reveals 61 international conflicts, with a significant toll on civilian lives and increasing organized violence.
Research conducted by the Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP) indicates that 2024 has witnessed a higher number of armed conflicts than any year since World War II. The report notes the occurrence of 61 international conflicts in the past year, which includes 11 war scenarios that have placed civilians at heightened risk.
Civilians have not only been collateral damage but have also been targeted deliberately, according to Swedish researchers.
Approximately 160,000 individuals globally lost their lives due to organized violence last year, making it the fifth highest number of casualties recorded since 1989.
Among the 11 conflicts categorized as wars, prominent territorial disputes include the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, Israel's bombardment of Gaza in response to Hamas attacks, Israeli operations against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, clashes with the Islamic State in Nigeria, and the civil war in Ethiopia.
Furthermore, power struggles have been reported in Burkina Faso, Myanmar, Pakistan, Somalia, Sudan, and Syria.
While there is an observable increase in the number of wars and conflicts, fatalities have been somewhat lower compared to the exceptionally bloody year of 2022. Despite this, 2024 remains the fourth most violent year since the Rwandan genocide in 1994. In the Gaza Strip, only 2% of the deaths could be classified as members of the warring parties, while 48% of those killed were identified as civilians, stated Sean Davis, a senior analyst at UCDP.
In 2024, targeted attacks resulted in the deaths of 13,900 civilians, marking a 31% increase from 2023. The Islamic State was reported to be responsible for the majority of these casualties, approximately 3,800, predominantly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Civilians have not only been collateral damage but have also been targeted deliberately, according to Swedish researchers.
Approximately 160,000 individuals globally lost their lives due to organized violence last year, making it the fifth highest number of casualties recorded since 1989.
Among the 11 conflicts categorized as wars, prominent territorial disputes include the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, Israel's bombardment of Gaza in response to Hamas attacks, Israeli operations against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, clashes with the Islamic State in Nigeria, and the civil war in Ethiopia.
Furthermore, power struggles have been reported in Burkina Faso, Myanmar, Pakistan, Somalia, Sudan, and Syria.
While there is an observable increase in the number of wars and conflicts, fatalities have been somewhat lower compared to the exceptionally bloody year of 2022. Despite this, 2024 remains the fourth most violent year since the Rwandan genocide in 1994. In the Gaza Strip, only 2% of the deaths could be classified as members of the warring parties, while 48% of those killed were identified as civilians, stated Sean Davis, a senior analyst at UCDP.
In 2024, targeted attacks resulted in the deaths of 13,900 civilians, marking a 31% increase from 2023. The Islamic State was reported to be responsible for the majority of these casualties, approximately 3,800, predominantly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
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