Conflict Regions

➡️Conflict Regions - Armed Conflict Tracker

Devastatingly, 2 billion people are currently living in areas with violent conflict - the equivalent of one-quarter of the human population. The world is currently experiencing the highest number of conflicts since 1945 (the end of WWII), and with a 65% increase in conflict-affected areas since 2021, hopes for peace are shattered.

Conflict is driven by complex political, social, religious, and discriminatory systems. It is fuelled by ignorance, hate, state-controlled media, weak democracy, greed and corruption. Citizens are always the biggest losers.

Jump straight to our resources on ➡️ Conflict Regions

Explore our comprehensive guides on -

• The War on Gaza

• The Russian Invasion of Ukraine

• The Civil War in Sudan

• The Myanmar Civil War

• War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity

• The Military

• World Wars and Other Major International Conflicts

• Fragile States

• The Threat of Nuclear Weapons

• Children in Conflict

• Women as Victims of War

• And most importantly, Peace, Nonviolence, and Disarmament

   

What are the Humanitarian Consequences of War?

During times of conflict, human rights and social needs are forgotten. Arms companies and defence industries generate windfall profits, and military budgets become bloated beyond reason - all at taxpayers' expense.

In 2024, the world military budget blew past the $2.46 trillion mark for the first time ever. In 2024, the defence expenditure for NATO members was approximately $1.47 trillion - more than half of global military spending!

Meanwhile, the U.S. is suffering from rampant inequality, poverty, national debt, and a multitude of other social issues. The UK is grappling with all-time high inflation, an economic crisis, a failing healthcare system, cruel austerity measures, and nationwide public sector strikes.

Global hunger levels have reached new highs, worsened by the global food crisis and supply chain issues. Foreign aid and humanitarian assistance are failing and remain vastly underfunded despite the unprecedented need for help.

Citizens living in conflict regions are left surrounded by violence, death, and fear. They are forced to leave their homes, resulting in millions of war refugees who endure perilous migrant routes, only to find deplorable conditions in border camps once they arrive.

One hundred twenty million people globally have been forcibly displaced as a direct result of conflict, violence or rights violations. In Syria alone, 65% of the population, a massive 12 million people, are either internally displaced or living abroad as refugees.

Education and employment become impossible. Assets become worthless, and healthcare systems are inoperable. Water supplies become non-existent, farming systems collapse, and food supplies are cut off.

Children in conflict become separated from their families, lose their homes and are torn away from their schools and universities. As a vulnerable sector of society, children experience lasting physical and emotional trauma and suffer long-term consequences on their development and growth - a lost generation. As many as 300,000 children currently are believed to be directly involved in war as child soldiers.

In times of war, women’s rights are always forgotten. They suffer at the hands of soldiers, even becoming victims of rape. Ultimately, the quality of life for everyone is reduced to a point where basic needs cannot be met, either internally or through aid channels. The humanitarian costs of war can never be justified.

No side ever truly wins a war if the sacrifice is tens of thousands of casualties and injured, a nation left traumatised, and the total destruction of vital civilian infrastructure.

Where are the World's Worst Conflicts?

• CONFLICT IN THE MIDDLE EAST & NORTH AFRICA

Forty-five armed conflicts are currently active in this part of the world, making it the most affected region. Now in its 10th year of conflict, Syria is suffering one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world. Learn more about the 2011 uprising, the armed insurgency that followed, the global proxy war, and the Assad regime and its recent fall.

The Israeli–Palestinian conflict is one of the most prolonged conflicts witnessed by the world. Citizens have endured conflict since 1948 after the creation of the State of Israel - igniting the first Arab-Israeli war. Ruled by the militant group Hamas, the Gaza Strip has been plagued by Israeli bombing and tight restrictions. Find guides on ceasefire initiatives, human rights violations, protests, West Bank annexation, the troubled peace process, and much more.

The Yemeni Civil War is not only one of the most underreported but also now the world's worst humanitarian disaster. It began back in 2014 when Houthi insurgents took over the country's capital. Relentless bombing by Saudi Arabia and the U.S. has only escalated tensions and led to almost 250,000 fatalities. An ongoing economic crisis and famine are devastating the country further and stretching its citizens to the absolute brink.

Lebanon is currently undergoing a political and economic crisis, which has driven thousands to protest rising food prices, fuel shortages, blackouts, and poor management of the Covid-19 pandemic. Further exasperated by the Beirut Port Blast in 2020, civil unrest is expected to continue until major reforms are made. Tensions are also simmering on the Israel border as violence spreads into other areas of the Middle East.

For further reading on the region, find extensive categories on the conflict in Iran, where extreme governmental repression has led to widespread protests, and also Libya, which has been plagued by military and political instability since the Arab Spring protests of 2011.

• CONFLICT IN AFRICA

Thirty-five armed conflicts are currently taking place on the African continent. Increasing tensions are being felt all over this region, with coups, military takeovers, and daily violence becoming the norm in many African countries.

Find an in-depth guide to the civil war in Tigray, where power struggles, protests, calls for political reform, and concerns over human rights and democracy have led to military confrontation. In the deadliest war of the 21st century, 600,000 lives were lost. An acute famine is now affecting 350,000 people.

The Central African Republic has witnessed decades of violence and political instability. Learn about religious clashes, attempts at disarmament, armed groups, lawlessness, peace endeavours, and the resulting economic fallout.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo faces similar issues, with multiple armed groups engaged in conflicts over both territorial and resource control. Over the last few years, more than 7 million people have been forced to flee, and activity from the M23 rebels continues to spiral. Find further information on the Kivu conflict, child soldiers, violence against women, and human rights implications.

The civil war in Somalia is one of Africa’s oldest wars; more than 20 years of violence has left Somalians caught between severe drought and conflict in a dangerous and unstable situation. Islamist terrorist group Al-Shabab aim to overthrow the UN-backed Somali government. They now control large parts of the country and regularly carry out lethal attacks on civilians and peace workers.

Since its separation from now South Sudan in 2011, Sudan has suffered relentless conflict and instability comprising two civil wars and a lengthy ongoing war in Darfur. Currently ruled under militant leader al-Burhan after a coup in 2019, we are now witnessing a power struggle which has exacerbated widespread violence, massive displacement, and huge ariel bombing campaigns. Learn about the brutal genocide, the Darfur war crimes trials, rebels, protests, and much more.

A power play between Kiir and Machar has dominated years of political struggles in South Sudan. Violence has massively interfered with agricultural production and resulted in large-scale food insecurity. Armed insurgency The National Salvation Front poses a new threat as fragile peace agreements unravel.

Find even more information on the complex situations in the Western Sahara, Mali, and Senegal.

• CONFLICT IN SOUTH EAST & CENTRAL ASIA

Twenty-one armed conflicts are currently taking place in Asia. Violence resurged in Myanmar after the brutally violent 2021 coup d'état, where power was seized from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. Pro-democracy activists clashed with the ruling junta, resulting in aerial bombings and destruction of civilian infrastructure in an attempt to secure military control. Martial law has spread to 47 townships, and violence has escalated in ethnic areas.

Years of persecution of the Rohingya people have led to almost one million refugees living in camps in Bangladesh. They endure deplorable living situations and rely entirely on humanitarian aid for their survival.

Territorial disputes over Kashmir between Pakistan and India are still ongoing despite a 2003 cease-fire. In one of the most militarised places on Earth, human rights abuses, unrest, disappearances, terrorism, and violent protests are commonplace.

Learn more about the situation in Pakistan and India, as well as the rise in Hindu nationalism under Modi's government,  Muslim discrimination, and increasing the marginalisation of the community.

Now locked in an arms race after years of stalemate, tensions between North Korea and South Korea appear to be escalating. North Korea has ramped up their frequency of missile tests. With denuclearisation no longer on the table, South Korea has responded with new sanctions targeting weapons programmes and vowed a full-scale military response with backing from its allies in Japan and the U.S.

Better World Info is also closely monitoring the situation regarding China. With a shared mutual distrust of the West and expanding NATO presence in the East, Russia and China have recommitted to a close partnership.

China's ongoing dispute with Taiwan is also attracting international concern. Since 1949, Taiwan has had its own democratic government but has failed to maintain diplomatic ties with many countries, and it is unable to join the UN and most international organisations.

China has always viewed Taiwan as part of its territory and eventually aims to unify Taiwan with the mainland – with force if necessary. The U.S. has a close but unofficial relationship with the island and, despite pressure from China, continues to sell weapons to the Taiwanese military. Experts fear that the U.S. and China could go to war over Taiwan's independence.

With relations between China and the U.S. at an all-time low and increasing military build-up from both sides, experts have labelled it the new Cold War. Factors at play include China's oppression of the Uyghur population, harsh U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports, restrictions on U.S. tech exports derailing China's chip industry, and suspected Chinese spy balloons floating over U.S. territory.

• CONFLICT IN EUROPE (EU & Non-EU)

Seven armed conflicts are currently taking place in Europe, the largest and most devastating of which is the Russian war in Ukraine. Explore our unique peace guide, which contains over 10,000 resources featuring extensive topics on NATO expansion, Western weapon exports into Ukraine, global economic consequences including Russian gas and oil, sanctions, war crimes, human rights, the resulting refugee crisis, nuclear war threats, and much more.

We highly recommend checking out our voices for peace and peace negotiations categories and our essential viewing and reading sections for reliable critical news and analysis.

On the border between Europe and Asia, Armenia has been locked in a bitter conflict with Azerbaijan over the Nagorno Karabakh region since 1988. Incidents between the two territories were regular occurrences until 2020, when an all-out war broke out. Around 5,000 soldiers and civilians were killed before a ceasefire brokered by Russia was implemented. Currently under control by Azerbaijan, localised but deadly border clashes are still commonplace.

De-escalation, Disarmament, and Diplomacy for a Better World

The costs of war, financial and humanitarian, far exceed that of any potential gain by ‘winning’. The cost of peaceful conflict resolution leading to long-term sustainable peace is a drop in the ocean compared to the trillions wasted on gigantic military budgets. The U.S. government spent $8 trillion on the Afghan war over 20 years. This is $5 trillion more than the annual U.S. Federal Budget. It is DOUBLE the global annual budget needed to meet the Sustainable Development Goals AND the Global Aid Budget (OECD) for 50 years - combined!

War never brings peace. Statistically, nonviolent resolutions have a success rate five times higher than violent ones. As former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon said,

“The world is over-armed, and peace is underfunded.”

Levels of conflict are at an all-time high, and climate change is becoming an increasing factor. Violent disputes arise over land, depleting resources, and agricultural boundaries. Of the 25 countries most vulnerable to climate change, 14 are plagued with conflict. These countries also tend to be some of the poorest, lack strong governance, and are less able to adapt to a changing climate.

Military emissions play a significant role in the generation of greenhouse gases accelerating climate change, not to mention the colossal environmental damage caused by destructive war machines. Militaries are conveniently spared from emissions reporting, so the data is spotty and mostly ignored by the media, but estimates are around 6% of total global emissions.

In January 2025, the Doomsday Clock was moved one second closer to midnight. Now at 89 seconds, in a chilling warning, this is the closest we have ever been to self-destruction. It is of utmost importance that we step back from the brink by implementing a total nuclear weapon ban, including stockpiling and posturing.

As a voice for peace, Better World Info fights against military propaganda and misleading enemy images and advocates for open dialogue, diplomatic negotiations, and de-escalation. We must shift focus and funding to peacebuilding.

German speakers should check out our partner site, Bessere Welt Info, and its excellent category on Konfliktregionen.

Author: Rachael Mellor, 20.04.23 (Updated 03.04.25) licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

For further reading on Conflict Regions see below ⬇️