The Humanitarian Consequences of War ……
Today war and armed conflict devastate over 60 countries across the globe. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) conducts operations in over 80 countries and maintains a permanent presence in over 60 countries worldwide.
In 2006 a total 5,751 casualties from landmines, explosive remnants of war (ERW) and victim-activated improvised explosive devices (IED) were recorded in over 68 countries around the world. Civilians accounted for three-quarters of casualties and children were 34 per cent of the total civilian casualties.
(The Landmine Monitor Report of 2007)
Sexual violence as a means of warfare or the demand that women have more children to replace lost sons increases the vulnerability of women during periods of armed conflict. During the conflict in the former Yugoslavia, over 20,000 women were raped in 1992 alone. For such reasons, increased insecurity and fear of attack often force women and children to flee, as a result, they form the majority of the world’s refugees and displaced.
( Fact Sheet, UN Development Fund for Women, 1999, "Violence Against Women Around the World”, ICRC Publication, Women and War)
At the end of 2005, the global figure of refugees and internally displaced or stateless people stood at 21 million. By the close of 2006, 32.9 million, or an increase of 56 per cent was the total – the equivalent of the population of Canada.
(UNHCR 2006 Global Trends Report, page 4)
Posted February 1, 2008/Updated February 21, 2008 |
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