It’s common to hear that the Russia-Ukraine war is a turning point in history. With at least 8,000 civilians dead and 17.6 million people in need, the humanitarian outlook is dire. And as long as the conflict continues — which it might for years — that outlook is set to worsen.
But while Ukraine has swamped the political agenda in the capitals of the global north, the rest of the world has been occupied with problems closer to home: economic strains, fragility and insecurity, and climate shocks.
“It’s worth noting that [Ukraine] was not the bloodiest conflict of 2022,” said Mark Lowcock, the former United Nations under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs. “Probably, that was in Tigray, where estimates are that 600,000 people died.”
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About the author
William Worley@willrworley
Will Worley is the Climate Correspondent for Devex, covering the intersection of development and climate change. He previously worked as UK Correspondent, reporting on the FCDO and British aid policy during a time of seismic reforms. Will’s extensive reporting on the UK aid cuts saw him shortlisted for ‘Specialist Journalist of the Year’ in 2021 by the British Journalism Awards. He can be reached at william.worley@devex.com.
