Rüülhouü Khawakhrie
Department of English, Modern College Piphema
The world is today witnessing a very tumultuous phase as the situations in various corners of the globe are rippling across borders like never before. Conflicts, once remote, are not isolated anymore and are severely impacting peace and security worldwide. Wars are happening simultaneously in multiple parts of the world, including Europe, the Middle East and Africa, thereby impacting the entire globe not just in terms of peace but also economy and human suffering.
Major wars are still raging across the globe. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began in 2014 and severely escalated in 2022, leading to major losses of life and complete destruction of buildings and infrastructure throughout Ukraine. Fierce fighting is still ongoing, even as of 2026, with talks for peace grinding to a halt. Eastern Ukraine’s industrial regions like Luhansk, Donetsk, and Zaporizhzhia have been hit the hardest. Many workers have been killed in the ongoing battles and resulting hunger, leaving the remaining men without income to support their families.
From the Middle East comes yet another tragic, heart-wrenching story of devastating conflict and massive destruction – in the Israel-Palestine struggle, particularly in Gaza. This local conflict has soon escalated into a ‘region-wide conflict’ involving various groups like Hezbollah, and even indirectly, against Iran. Millions have been forced to flee their homes as hospitals, schools, and homes are destroyed at an alarming rate.
The civil war in Sudan is spiralling into yet another massive crisis as the humanitarian disaster unfolds into one of the worst in the world. Millions of people have been driven from their homes, and hunger and disease are sweeping through communities as the collapse of health, food, water, and sanitation systems leaves people exposed and in need of urgent help.
In addition to those listed above, conflict continues in Myanmar, Ethiopia, Yemen and many parts of Africa, including the Sahel region.
Civilians in modern war are an afterthought. Today’s conflicts are more urban than previous wars, and the bloodshed leaves tens of thousands of civilians each year dead, wounded, or forced from their homes. To examine how these events unfold, photographer Joey Helms recently spent a year documenting the battles in Ukraine and donated the resulting book to the rebels.
In countries like Sudan and Gaza, entire populations are in need of humanitarian aid for basic human needs such as food, clean water and healthcare. Conflict is one of the leading causes of global hunger, leaving a trail of destruction in the wake of war, including the degradation of food systems and loss of livelihoods.
Children are some of the biggest victims of conflict, with many losing access to education, being traumatised and growing up in the midst of violence.
Wars are not isolated events; they affect not only the countries directly involved but also have global consequences. The ongoing conflict in Russia and Ukraine has impacted global energy supplies and food exports, sparking sharp rises in inflation and economic instability around the world.
Changes taking place in the Middle East can also affect oil prices and affect trade routes around the world. Even for those living far from these conflicts, the effects can echo across the globe, and the result can be a rising cost of living and economic uncertainty.
There is growing concern that international law is in decline, with the rules intended to limit the impact of war on civilians being increasingly flouted. War crimes and breaches of human rights are becoming more common, and those responsible are less likely to be brought to trial.
The United Nations itself has also voiced concern that the “rule of force” is beginning to trump the “rule of law”, in that military power and raw strength are increasingly giving way to pure force and intimidation.
The impact of new technologies is also transforming the face of modern war. Drones, cyber warfare and new arms technologies can be highly precise weapons, but their introduction has also brought an ongoing and unpredictable nature to conflict.
This form of warfare can also extend into the sphere of information, affecting the opinions of the public through the medium of television and the internet. It can be utilised to spread propaganda and also further the rifts already present in human society.
It’s sombre times, but there are ongoing efforts to bring about an end to hostilities and begin the work of rebuilding. International organisations and humanitarian groups are working around the clock to broker a ceasefire and deliver essential aid. Long-term peace, however, will require cooperation, trust, and capable leadership.
Even after wars cease, it is important for humanity not to ignore the root causes of conflict. It is simplistic to say that the world simply needs more wars to stop wars. What the world needs is an end to wars and a simultaneous confrontation of the underlying factors driving them: poverty, inequality, instability of governance, and competition for resources and opportunities.
The world is at a crossroads right now. Wars are raging on in Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan and elsewhere. Wars are not just about politics, ideologies or material possessions. They are the suffering of millions of human beings and a daily deterioration of the human condition.
Our future depends on the actions of global leaders and societies. Let us break the cycle of violence. Together we can create a more peaceful world. Let us now start a new cycle of understanding and respect for humanity.
