How war and violent conflict affect us all.

The picture collage shows a soldier walking in a field followed by a military tank.

Then various men, women, and children of different nationalities affected by war.

The world is facing the highest number of violent conflict since the Second World War,

and two billion people, a quarter of humanity, live in places affected by such conflict.

United Nations Deputy Secretary General Amina J. Mohamed, January 26, 2003.

War and violent conflict can break out in places currently at peace.

Even those who are far from a conflict may suffer, because the world is more interconnected than ever before.

And the harm inflicted lasts long after the fighting ends.

Consider some examples.

Food shortages.

According to the World Food Program, conflict is still the biggest driver of hunger,

with 70% of the world's hungry people living in areas afflicted by war and violence.

The image shows an icon of two hands holding an empty bowl.

Physical and mental health problems.

The threat of war and the insecurity that it brings can cause people to suffer stress and

anxiety. Those who live in conflict zones

are not only more likely to suffer physical harm, but also to develop mental health problems. Yet,

they often have limited access to medical services. The image shows an icon of a sad woman covering

her face with her hands.

Force displacement. As of September, 2003, more than 114 million people worldwide had been forced to flee their homes,

according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

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