Causes and costs of war. Why and what the reason that the invader like US and Coalison want to make war to people in Iraq and Afghanistan. Actually US and Coalision have no right to invade and occupied the other country. Iraq and Afghanistan are not fighting with US and Coalision. But why they come and occupied freedom country such like Iraq and Afghanistan.?? Its so horrible and unjustice! Why UN so quiet?? Why ..... ??

Causes and costs of war

War costs the earth. Literally. http://www.mapw.org.au/causes-and-costs-war

• Wars and armed conflicts around the world kill hundreds to thousands of people each year.
• Wars turn families into refugees, forcing people to leave their homes, countries and regions. To leave cultures, traditional medicines and foods.
• Wars turn adults and children into soldiers and/or victims, creating an intergenerational spiral towards further conflict into the future.
• Wars destroy environments, lives and economies. And they happen all the time.

In any one year there are estimated to be around 30 wars and armed conflicts in the world. Many of these are beyond the reach of mainstream media coverage, and may be little known outside of their region.

Armed conflicts are not only harmful because of the deaths and injuries they cause both to combatants and civilians. In the lead up to, during and after conflicts, there many issues that impact on people and the environment, including

• numerous adverse health impacts,
• displacement of populations,
• the breakdown of services,
• a loss of cultural identities, traditional foods and medicines.

The consequences of these can live on long after the shooting ends, and the impact is almost always most severe on the civilian population, particularly women and children.

The costs of these wars are beyond measure in many ways. The issues facing veterans and victims of war, as well as civilians surviving post-conflict are all enormous. The problems faced by displaced populations and refugees are numerous, as are the economic costs of war to nations.

All of these issues directly impact on Australia, especially as we are currently involved in two major theatres of war, the Afghanistan conflict since 2001 and the Iraq war since 2003.

You can learn more about the causes and costs of war by clicking on the links in the main menu on your left.

Conflicts by region

Australia currently has an active military force in two major world conflicts, those in Afghanistan and Iraq. The Australian military also has a peace-keeping role in a range of other regional conflict and post-conflict zones, including West Papua and East Timor.

• There are estimated to be around 30 armed conflicts every year in the world. Each conflict is unique with particular historical, political, social and cultural factors.
• These conflicts kill hundreds to thousands of people each year, the majority of them civilians.
• Many of the current conflicts appear intractable and drawn-out. ...more on causes and costs of war

As a member of the United Nations, Australia is obliged to seek practical, constructive and realisitic outcomes on armed conflicts within our region and others.

MAPW provides an overview of several current regional conflicts in the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific, and provides links to reputable sources for further information.

Refugees

A refugee is defined as a person who is outside the borders of his or her country of nationality and is unable or unwilling to return, due to a well-founded fear of persecution on the basis of his or her race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion.

• In 2001 there were an estimated 14.9 million refugees worldwide.
• An additional 22 million people (this is a conservative estimate) are displaced within their own national borders.
• War is one of the major causes of the displacement of civilians, with most refugees coming from war-zones such as Iraq, Afghanistan, the Palestinian territories, Eritrea and Sudan.
• An estimated 80% of displaced people are women and children, often drawn from the poorest sections of society.
• Conditions in the refugee camps where many displaced people spend long periods of time are often unsafe, with food shortages and a lack of shelter and healthcare. Refugee camps may be targeted by warring groups.
• The majority of refugees are hosted in Asia and Africa, where resources to provide for their needs are limited.

This problem is worsened by the fact that many first world states, including Australia, have regressed on their commitments to refugees by instituting restrictive border control measures. These measures include mandatory detention and forced repatriation of asylum seekers and jeopardize the security and wellbeing of refugees.

Essential Reading:

• Human Rights Watch: Refugees
• International Committee of the Red Cross: War and Displacement

Women and children

http://www.mapw.org.au/causes-and-costs-war/civilians/women-and-children

In situations of armed conflict it is vulnerable members of society, such as children, who fare the worst.

In recent conflicts more than 70% of casualties have been civilians, mostly women and children. Existing discrimination on the basis of gender is exacerbated during wartime. This can be seen in the specific effects of armed conflict on women.

• In times of war women’s bodies are treated as a battleground. More than half of all those indicted at the International Criminal Court have been charged with rape and sexual assault. Women have also endured forced pregnancy, abduction and enslavement.
• Most child victims of sexual violence are girls.
• Victims of gender-based violence often face considerable difficulty in pursuing justice. The majority of cases are not reported.
• Up to 80% of all refugees, both internal and external, are women and children.
• Displaced women and children are at an increased risk of violence.
• Displaced women and children suffer from food shortages and lack of healthcare, with complications arising during childbirth a leading cause of death. Displaced children are at high risk of malnutrition and disease.
• Children as young as 7 have been reported as child soldiers. These children are often press-ganged into service and are valued for the fact that they are readily controlled by adults.
• Women and children affected by war often experience great difficulty in re-integrating into post-war society.

Women have, however, not remained passive. In many adverse situations women have demonstrated great ingenuity and resilience to not only survive, but to assist in rebuilding societies devastated by war.

Essential readings on women and war from UNIFEMⁱ
Crimes against Women in Situations of Armed Conflict
Women, War, Peace and Displacement
Women, War, Peace and Violence Against Women

Essential readings on children and warReport of Graca Machel on the Impact of Armed Conflict on Children

Essential links
The Beijing Platform for Action: relevant sections, from the UNⁱ Fourth World Conference on Women.
Women, War, Health. A short online film from UNFPAⁱ.

MAPW related policy

The Effect Of Detention Centres On The Health Of Children