Climate disasters seen increasing conflict risk in large countries
Rome, ItalyThomson Reuters Foundation Countries with large populations and low levels of development are most likely to see a rise in the risk of armed conflict after extreme weather events, according to a new study that researchers said underscored the need to boost their resilience. Almost one in three conflicts in large countries with ethnic […]
Deadly land dispute in Vietnam sparks crackdown on “critical” social media
Bangkok, ThailandThomson Reuters Foundation A deadly land dispute in Vietnam has led to a crackdown on social media posts, a sign of growing heavy-handedness by authorities as rising demand for land spurs more conflicts across the country, analysts and human rights activists said. Four people were killed and dozens arrested last week in the northern […]
‘Chaos map’ charts global deaths from water, food and fuel disruption
London, UKThomson Reuters Foundation As the planet warms, deadly conflicts over water, food and fuel shortages and price hikes for those essentials are expected to start increasing dramatically, including in relatively stable parts of the world like Europe, researchers warned on Thursday. A new interactive “Chaos Map” from Britain’s Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) displays 1,300 […]
Aid worker kidnappings ‘big business’ as criminals wade in – ex-hostage
LondonThomson Reuters Foundation Kidnapping of aid workers has become “big business” as militants often work with crime networks to carry out abductions, a senior United Nations official and former hostage said on Tuesday. Vincent Cochetel, who was held captive in Chechnya in 1998, said countries must bring kidnappers to justice to stem a steep increase […]
UN, Red Cross make joint appeal for an end to sexual violence in conflicts
The Red Cross and UN have issued a joint appeal for nations to take greater action to end the use of sexual violence in conflicts and provide more aid to victims. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the world was growing “ever more aware of the ubiquity of conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence”. Recounting how horrified […]
Mercenaries undermining the rule of law and exploiting terrorism, says UN Secretary General
Mercenaries are undermining the rule of law and “exploiting” transnational organised crime, terrorism and violent extremism, the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres told the UN Security Council on Monday. Speaking at a meeting convened by Equatorial Guinea, which holds the council’s presidency for a month, Guterres said the presence of mercenaries and other foreign fighters “worsens conflict […]
World is failing children as conflicts rage – UNICEF
The world is failing children with the futures of millions affected by conflicts across the globe at risk and perpetrators of “grave violations” against children not held accountable, according to UNICEF. As the new year begins, the UN children’s agency highlighted numerous countries where children are suffering including Afghanistan – where some 5,000 were killed […]
African wars killed five million sick children in 20 years – study
Thomson Reuters Foundation Five million children in Africa have died from preventable diseases over the last 20 years because armed conflict deprived them of access to basic healthcare or clean water, scientists said on Thursday. A study published in The Lancet medical journal showed conflict in countries such as Nigeria and Democratic Republic of Congo had contributed […]
Children being disproportionately affected, displaced and targeted in conflict zones, says UN
Children are disproportionately affected, displaced and targeted in violence occurring as part of the ongoing conflicts around the world, according to the UN. Leila Zerrougui, the special representative of the secretary-general for children and armed conflict, said in her annual report that children continued to have their human rights violated in the year to December, […]