2024 News
Awareness: Conflict, Humanitarianism and Natural Disaster
Design by: Vernika Monk (1)
UKRAINE
Conflict:
Russia has attacked, damaged and destroyed many Ukrainian buildings, homes and hospitals in cities, such as Kyiv and Kherson, including areas in the south and east of Ukraine. As of February, the Ukrainian government has stated that there have been 31,000 caualities of the Ukrainian forces, and as of April 2024, there have been almost 10,000 civilian fatalities.
Although, North Korea has aligned with Russia in these attacks into Ukraine, as of late 2024, Ukraine has counter-attacked by targeting, destroying and damaging many Russian military vessels, storage and oil depots. This includes destroying key military transport bridges near Belgorod, Kursk and Rostov regions, near the Ukraine-Russian border, in the east.
Natural Disaster:
No Natural Disaster.
Humanitarian:
The need for humanitarians agencies to supply aide to millions of Ukrainians continues to increase. The IC support for Ukraine remains constant from countries, such as the UK, and the US. As of February, there are over 6.5M Ukrainians refugees world-wide and of those 6M take refuge in EU countries. Other countries such as French Guinea has hosted less then 100k.
In the country of Ukraine, there are at least 4M IDPs, in which humanitarian agencies seek to aid. The largest numbers are displaced in Dnipropetrovska, followed by Kharkivska, each with over 400K Ukrainian IDPs, while many (500k to 1M) Ukrainians fled to Russia.
SOMALIA
Conflict:
The quest for territory in Somalia continues with internal fraction and other countries. In February, four people were killed in Mogadishu by an al-Shabab bomber and the Somali governance struck the Al-Shabab military in central Somalia causing at least 20 fatalities.
The Somliland region agrees to provide access to Ethiopia along the Somalian sea area, along the Gulf of Aden. Somaliland is not recognized by the Somali governance and discourages such collaborations, which they fear will lead to a probable build to a military base. Hence, Somalia's allies have put forth efforts to reduce tensions. Egypt has shipped weapons to the Somalian government defense to counter Ethiopia, Somaliland and Al-Shabab and Turkey seeks to mediate the tensions between Ethiopia and Somalia.
Natural Disaster:
Heavy rains that occurs regularly from what is called the Gu (March-April) has effected the areas of Mogadishu, Beleweyne, and Baidoa.
The recent floods, in September caused cholera to breakout in the regions of Mogadishu, Beleweyne, and Baidoa from contaminated flood water. This includes cholera disease from flood waters in November in the same regions, killing 54 Somalians.
Humanitarian:
As of late 2024, drought, food insecurity, and flooding has caused 3.5 million displaced Somalians, which is a decrease from 3.8 million, in 2023.
Many of them flea to surrounding countries to escape these conditions, such as Ethiopia (300K Somalian refugees), and Yemen (45K Somalians) via sea. As of July, there were migrate Somalians in a boat that capsized off the coast of Yemen. This event killed at least 49 people with 140 remaining missing.
In addition, many humanitarians are targeted during distribution. For example, the Al-Shabab militant group attacked and seized a humanitarian helicopter during operations causing a reduction of aid.
YEMEN
Conflict:
The Yemen Iran-backed Houthis continue to strike vessels along the Red Sea route. They have attacked over 80 vessels, which has affected the commerce of cargo, oil and other commodities along the corridor. The US and UK forces have continued to intercept those strikes, but, several of the vessels have been struck, such as the UK bulk carrier on Feb. 18th. As a result of this strike, for many days the vessels leaked oil that was 18 miles long. As of March 3rd, the ship sank into the sea. In June, a Singapore vessel, called the Sounion was attacked in late August and remained on fire for days until it was extinguished. It was towed away mid-September.
There have been counter-attacks from countries, such as the US, UK and Israel. In an attempt to stop the Houthis terrorist attacks, the US and UK have struck many Houthi military storage areas and oil depots. Israel struck many of the Houthis infrastratures, such as a fuel depot near the Hodeida port, in July, the Ras Isa port in Septemer, and electrical infrastructure, in December. Also, in December, Israel struck their airport in Sana'a.
Natural Disaster:
In August, flooding occured in the Al-Hudayduh region, including other areas, such as Al-Mahwit, which had landslides that destroyed infrastructure. There were reports of 24 missing and 45 Yemenis that have died.
Humanitarian:
Humanitarian agencies state that there are over 4.5M IDPs' in Yemen as of February. As of December 2024, the most IDPs in Yemen are in the regions of Al Hudaydah (430,764), Hajjah (365,477), followed by Taizz (465,357). In addition, however, there are numerous countries who flee into Yemen, such as the 64% of the displaced from Somalia who flea persecution, natural disasters, or to seek better opportunities.
The ongoing strikes, from the Houthis is also disrupting humanitarian aid, along the Red Sea corridor. Moreover, there have been UN workers who have been held hostage by the Houthis, in which 9 have been taken captive, as of August.
GAZA
Conflict:
Israel retaliation from the October 7th, 2023 attacks from Hamas continues the Hamas-Israeli war and has caused many casualties. Israel has killed many top commanders within the Hamas hierachy of power.
Many countries and humanitarians have asked for a ceasefire between them to reduce the casualities of civilian Palestinians, including citizens in other countries who have protested the war.
Natural Disaster:
No Natural Disasters
Humanitarian:
In February, there was an incident concerning humanitarian distribution, in Gaza, in which a stampede occured while people were lined up to receive food. This event killed over 18 people, which resulted in US intervention, in the form of a temporary pier to supply aid. As a result, by May, once the pier was complete, the US distributed 500 tons of supplies and food to the Gazians. However, distribution is often halted by Israeli forces as they seek Hamas. Often Israel has warned and redirected the civilian Palestinians towards the south of Gaza or other locations in Gaza to reduce the casualities. These ongoing tactics of Israel, however, in turn have caused the Gazians to continuously uproot.
There have been over 117.3 million Gazans displaced and of those, 800,000 are in the city of Rafa. Many are in need of housing, food and other supplies. Also, according to reports, as of December 2024, 69% of Gaza's infrastructure has been "destroyed or damaged," such as homes, and refugee camps.
PHILIPPINES
Conflict:
In the Mindanao region, conflict continues in Bilar, La Castellana, and in the Mindanao region (Carmen, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Shariff Saydona Mustapha, Sultan sa Barongis, Mamasapano, Pagalungan, and Rajah Buayan). They continue to want independence from the Philippinian governance.
Externally, in March, a Philippian military chartered vessel was hit by a Coast Guard Chinese (CCG) vessel in the northern area of the Philippines. In early September the CCG has taunted the Philippines fishboats and vessels in the contested maritime area of the South China Sea. The conflict over territory, continues, as of 2024.
In addition, the Philippians were indirectly involved in the Hamas-Israel war along the Red Sea, which caused the fatality of two Filipinos who were on a vessel (True Confidence), that was struck by the Houthis.
Natural Disaster:
In Febraury, in the Davao province of Mindanao, there were severe landslides flooding. These earth moving events caused 54 deaths.
The July, Gaemi typhoon caused 20 casualties.
In September, the storm Yagi, killed over 20 people, who were mostly affected in the Rizal and Luzon areas.
Humanitarian:
Many flooding events throughout the year caused displacement. There were several incidents of flooding in Region XI, a tornado in Region VI that affected over 150 people in the city of Zambonga City, in Region IX. There were over 800,000 people in the southern regions of Mindanao and Davao de Oro province that were displaced from flooding in February. The typhoon Gaemi, which came from the direction of China and Tiawan gradually made its' way to northern and central areas of the Luzon proviince. This caused 600,000 people to be displaced. The storm Yagi, in September, caused over 47,000 people to be displaced.
Source:
(1) "Helicopter Image." Stockcake. Only the image is a derivitive work. Design by Vernika Monk
Voice of America. VOANews. Public Domain (VOA articles).