Report: 2023 Sees Most Armed Conflicts Since End of World War II

Improve the News Foundation -
0:00
/1861

Facts

  • A report released Monday by the Norwegian Peace Research Institute of Oslo (PRIO) stated there were 59 military conflicts around the world last year, the highest since the end of World War II, the majority of which are located in Africa.1
  • According to PRIO, Africa accounted for 28 of the 59 wars, followed by Asia (17), the Middle East (10), Europe (3), and the Americas (1). Despite this, the number of nations plagued by conflict has decreased from 39 in 2022 to 34.2
  • Uppsala University in Sweden gathered data from NGOs and international organizations, showing a 50% decrease in combat deaths compared to the previous year, with numbers reaching around 122K.3
  • According to the report, the spread of the Islamic State (IS) across Asia and the Middle East, as well as the general involvement of a growing number of non-state actors, can partially explain the increase in conflicts.1
  • The report suggests that the spread of IS has further complicated the work of NGOs 'to maneuver the conflict landscape and improve the lives of ordinary people,' said Siri Aas Rustad, the main author of the PRIO report.1
  • According to Rustad, 'violence in the world is at an all-time high since the end of the Cold War' when considering the cumulative death toll over the last three years.2

Sources: 1Al Jazeera, 2The Daily Star and 3Daily.

Narratives

  • Narrative A, as provided by ReliefWeb. Coinciding with this report, the Global Peace Index 2024 was released, showing that the world economic impact of war and conflict was $19.1T last year, while only $49.6B was spent on peacebuilding and peacekeeping, representing less than 0.6% of total military spending. The world isn't doing enough to bring about peace.
  • Narrative B, as provided by Guardian. Contrary to popular belief, the world has become increasingly violent. With the last three years having seen a record number of conflicts and deaths than at any time in the previous 30 years, it is becoming increasingly difficult for governments, NGOs, and international organizations to provide support to people in need.

Predictions