Battlefield deaths from global conflicts hit 30-year high, study finds

Deaths from Civil Conflicts and Battles Reach Highest Level in Three Decades

According to a new report by the Peace Research Institute Oslo (Prio), deaths from civil conflicts and battles worldwide have reached the highest level in three decades.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

1. Goal 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

The research conducted by Prio revealed that although the number of battlefield deaths decreased compared to the previous two years, the overall number of conflict-related deaths, including civilians, has risen to the highest level in 30 years since 2021.

This increase in battlefield deaths over the past three years has been driven by the civil war in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the Israeli bombing of Gaza.

Despite a decrease in conflict fatalities last year, attributed to the ceasefire in Tigray, there were still 122,000 conflict-related deaths in 2023. Ukraine accounted for over 71,000 deaths, while Gaza witnessed an estimated 23,000 deaths in less than three months at the end of 2023.

Global Conflict and its Complexity

• 59 different conflict zones recorded in 34 countries
• Several states dealing with multiple conflicts simultaneously

The research also highlighted a substantial increase in the scale of global conflict, with 59 different conflict zones recorded in 34 countries. Many states are simultaneously dealing with multiple conflicts.

Siri Aas Rustad, the author of the report and a research professor at Prio, emphasized that the conflict landscape has become increasingly complex, with more conflict actors operating within the same country.

Rustad stated, “Violence in the world is at an all-time high. The figures suggest that the conflict landscape has become increasingly complex, with more conflict actors operating within the same country. We have seen a lot of very extreme violent conflicts overlapping in the past few years – Gaza, Ukraine, and Ethiopia before that. And that becomes an international power struggle – who supports who, and where does the money go. It creates a tougher international environment.”

Rustad also highlighted the increasing complexity of conflicts, with more than half of the countries experiencing more than one conflict and seven countries facing more than three conflicts simultaneously.

She attributed this complexity to the expansion of the Islamic State across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, as well as the involvement of other armed Islamist groups in multiple countries.

Impact on Aid Groups and Civil Society Organizations

Rustad expressed concern about the impact of these developments on aid groups and civil society organizations, stating that it has become increasingly difficult for them to navigate the conflict landscape and improve the lives of ordinary people.

Regional Analysis

• Africa: 28 separate conflict zones, nearly doubling in the past decade, with over 330,000 battlefield deaths since 2021
• Americas: Home to the most non-state conflicts for the first time, with 36 in total. Mexico remains the most violent country, with almost 14,000 conflict-related deaths.

Africa has the highest number of state-based conflicts, with 28 separate conflict zones. The number of conflicts in Africa has nearly doubled in the past decade, resulting in over 330,000 battlefield deaths since 2021.

The Americas, for the first time, have become home to the most non-state conflicts, with a total of 36. Mexico remains the most violent country, with almost 14,000 conflict-related deaths.

Rustad expressed continuous concern about the emergence of new extremely violent conflicts more frequently than before.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

1. Goal 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
• SDG 1: No Poverty (indirectly connected)
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities (indirectly connected)

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere
• SDG 16.1.1: Number of victims of intentional homicide per 100,000 population, by sex and age
• SDG 16.1.2: Conflict-related deaths per 100,000 population, by sex, age, and cause
• SDG 16.1.3: Proportion of population subjected to physical, psychological, or sexual violence in the previous 12 months

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article mentions conflict-related deaths and the number of victims of intentional homicide. These indicators can be used to measure progress towards SDG 16.1 targets. The article also mentions the number of conflicts in Africa and the Americas, which indirectly reflects the level of violence and the need for peace and strong institutions.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Note: While SDG 1 and SDG 10 are indirectly connected to the issues discussed in the article (as poverty and inequalities can contribute to conflicts), there are no specific targets or indicators mentioned in the article related to these SDGs.

Source: theguardian.com