From the West-funded horrors of Yemen to Myanmar: 5 conflicts around the globe the world forgot
Russia's invasion of Ukraine has been slammed by western leaders, who are now working together to isolate the country both economically and politically. The swift decisions against Russian President Vladimir Putin are perhaps unprecedented, but also echo the vast chasm between support for a European nation, and others around the world engaged in conflict. By no means is Ukraine's situation less important, but the rush to help the nation, and focus on its situation has since removed the spotlight from several other global conflicts.
Much of the world is at war or at least suffering from civil war or internal conflict. Afghanistan for example has fallen back into Taliban control after the US and its allies pulled out of the nation in a chaotic withdrawal. It has since seen a brutal regime of reprisals against US sympathizers, which have now been forgotten entirely. As war broke out in Ukraine, many were quick to compare it to Afghanistan, but only along the lines of Joe Biden's refusal to send US troops in to help stranded citizens.
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Afghanistan is not alone. As of March 2022, there are several countries engaged in conflict either with militant groups or with political parties. Here's a look at five conflicts currently raging around the world, that we have since forgotten about.
#1: Yemen
Since 2014, the Middle-Eastern nation has been engaged in a long and brutal fight between the Saudi-backed coalition and Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. Over 100,000 people have been killed to date, and 4 million displaced according to the Council on Foreign Relations. The United Nations has named the humanitarian crisis "the worst in the world", made even worse by the fact that Yemen is one of the poorest nations in the Arab world.
The lack of data has made it harder to assess the true scale and impact, especially when you add Covid-19 to the mix. Adding to Yemen's woes, the coalition has imposed a strict air, sea, and land blockade, which has made it harder to get medicine, food, and other essential supplies to those affected.
#2: Myanmar
The Asian nation has been at civil war for most of its history but is currently facing a rather brutal battle between the military junta and rebel groups. Since the military seized power in a coup in February 2021, about 12,000 people have been killed. What began as ethnic cleansing of Rohingya Muslims has since escalated into a civil war, with attacks on civilians and humanitarian aid common sights.
The military has also engaged in frequent mass killings of civilians, forcing many to flee to neighboring Bangladesh and India. Notably, the junta is reportedly backed by Russia, with Putin supplying arms and diplomatic endorsement for the military while China too has been slowly backing the military regime.
#3: Ethiopia
In November 2020, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed ordered the military into the nation's Tigray region, after a military garrison was attacked by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front. It has since spiraled into another brutal civil war, leaving two million homeless and over 50,000 dead. Both sides have been accused of brutal war crimes from attacks on civilians to rape and murder, and so far, there's no sign of peace.
Complicating matters is Ethiopia's complex system that makes it hard to get humanitarian aid to those that desperately need it. As with Yemen, the full scale of the crisis, including the impact of Covid-19 has been hard to assess. Like with Myanmar, most of the west has chosen to let the war play out, without intervening beyond offering humanitarian aid.
#4: Haiti
While the scale may be smaller than others on the list, the conflict in Haiti is no less concerning. The Caribbean nation has been facing uncertainty and conflict since July 2021, when President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated in his home. Complicating matters is the fact that Moise's appointed Prime Minister Ariel Henry, was not sworn in at the time. While Henry has since been named interim leader, his inability to assert authority has left criminals rampantly taking over the nation, while protests frequently break out.
Criminal groups have seized oil terminals and engaged in kidnappings, making it hard to deliver humanitarian aid in the aftermath of the August 2021 earthquake. In fact, many groups including Médecins Sans Frontières have shut down operations entirely, leaving millions struggling while violence slowly escalates. Both intentional homicides and kidnappings have skyrocketed since, as concerns mount the nation could face a civil-war-like situation.
#5: Venezuela
Political unrest and infighting have rocked Venezuela since 2019, but things really escalated in 2021. The Human Rights Council has equated some of the brutal actions by President Nicolás Maduro and his regime to crimes against humanity, as he is engaged in a tussle for power with opposition leader Juan Guaidó. The violence and rampant inflation have forced many Venezuelans to flee the nation, with around 5.5 million estimated to have left so far.
Unlike Yemen, the crisis in Venezuela appears to be more political than military but is concerning nonetheless. People have been tortured and detained, and in some cases killed for their opposition to Maduro. Armed groups and gangs have only added to the issues, leaving the nation on the brink of collapse with no end in sight.