Not just Russia-Ukraine: wars around the world that must not be forgotten

Theaters of war have been and still seem to be a sad constant in human history, with the very serious consequences of enormous suffering and devastation throughout the world. Despite efforts to promote peace, many wars still rage today, often with disastrous effects on local communities and global stability. In Europe, the Russian-Ukrainian conflict is the order of the day, but that is not to forget that other parts of the world are also experiencing the same situation. The even more dramatic fact is the impossibility of estimating civilian casualties and damage caused in the various scenarios.

Yemen
Yemen’s civil war began in 2015, when Houthi rebels seized control of the capital, Sanaa. From there, the situation has worsened, with a Saudi-led coalition supporting the Yemeni government and the Houthi rebels trying to gain total control of the country. The war has caused a major humanitarian crisis, with millions of people suffering from hunger and disease.

Libya
The war in Libya began in 2011, when protests against Muammar Qaddafi’s government were forcefully suppressed. NATO intervention led to the fall of Qaddafi, but the country was left in a state of chaos and instability, with rival armed groups and militias controlling different parts of the country. The situation was further complicated by the intervention of foreign powers, such as Turkey and Russia, which supported several rival groups. The war has created a serious
humanitarian crisis, with millions of Libyans forced to flee their homes.

Israel and Palestine
The conflict between Israel and Palestine has lasted for more than 70 years and the main cause of the clashes is the dispute over territory, with Israel controlling most of historic Palestine and the Palestinians seeking an independent state. The conflict has been characterized by violence and terrorist attacks on both sides, leaving the issue still unresolved.

Mali
The war in Mali is an armed conflict that began in 2012 when rebel groups took control of the north of the country. The Malian government sought the help of the international community to
defeat the rebel groups and regain control of the national territory and Operation Serval was launchedby French forces. Despite the global efforts, the conflict continues to this day, fueled by
a combination of factors including the presence of terrorist groups and the humanitarian and security crisis throughout the Sahel region.

Syria
The Syrian civil war began in 2011, when peaceful protests against the government of Bashar al-Assad. The protest was violently suppressed and gave rise to armed conflict between government forces and rebels. The situation was further complicated by the entry of terrorist
groups such as the Islamic State and foreign forces, most notably Turkey to Russia. Currently, the Syrian government has regained control over much of the territory, but the war continues in parts
of the country and the humanitarian situation remains critical.

Cameroon
In 2016, the English-speaking provinces of northwest and southwest Cameroon began a battle to demand greater autonomy. After a period of peaceful negotiations with the central government,
including demonstrations for fairer use of English in courts and schools and against discrimination and exclusion from power roles, the groups opted for armed choice. However, the war of independence is not the only one in the country. In fact, the terrorist group Boko Haram is still active, especially on the border with Nigeria. And there is no shortage of clashes among communities of farmers, herders and fishermen due to water and land scarcity caused by climate change.

In a world seeking progress toward peace and stability, these wars are a grim reminder that armed conflicts are still a concrete reality in many countries. However, all is not lost as organizations and individuals strive to end these conflicts and help those affected by the wars. Only through constructive dialogue and respect for the human rights of all parties involved we can hope to end wars and create a better future.