Analyse
Data from the **Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP)** and **Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO)** confirm that the number of active armed conflicts (50+ in 2022–2023) is at its highest since 1946, surpassing Cold War-era peaks. The **UN’s own reports** (e.g., *Global Humanitarian Overview 2023*) and **ACLED (Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project)** further corroborate that civilian casualties, displacement, and humanitarian crises have surged, with conflicts in Ukraine, Sudan, Yemen, and the Sahel driving record levels of suffering. Guterres’ framing aligns with consensus among conflict researchers and aid organizations.
Achtergrond
The post-WWII era saw fluctuating conflict numbers, with peaks during decolonization (1960s–70s) and the post-Cold War period (1990s). However, the 2010s–2020s have witnessed a resurgence due to protracted intra-state wars, climate stress, and geopolitical rivalries. Civilian harm has been exacerbated by urban warfare, indiscriminate weapons (e.g., explosives in populated areas), and blockades restricting aid, per **ICRC** and **OCHA** findings.
Samenvatting verdict
António Guterres’ claim that the world is experiencing the highest number of violent conflicts since WWII and that civilians are disproportionately affected is accurate based on data from conflict trackers and humanitarian reports.