Armed conflict is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon, resulting in severe impact on people and society. In addition to killing, wounding and displacing millions of people, these conflicts create massive refugee crises that place enormous burdens on host nations, international humanitarian entities and the communities affected by conflict. They also cause major economic disruption through direct expenses (e.g. the destruction of infrastructure) and indirect costs, such as the loss of investment capital and the disruption of trade and investments (Cameron, 2022).
Research has shown that armed conflicts are largely caused by unmet needs. These include the need to secure one’s basic survival, safety and sense of well-being; the need for belonging to a group; esteem and self-actualisation. As Maslow (1954; 1973) points out, the satisfaction of these needs determines human behaviour and motivation. Unmet needs can be triggered by various factors, such as discrimination and oppression of certain groups or the failure to provide them with economic opportunities.
In modern times, wars are often fought mainly within countries and involve an unprecedented number of civilian casualties. Innocent men, women and children are targeted, killed or injured due to indiscriminate attacks and the use of weapons incapable of distinguishing between combatants and non-combatants. Civilian homes and sanctuaries are also destroyed, causing suffering to the local population. The traumatic experiences of conflict are long-lasting, having a profound impact on the mental and physical health of those directly involved as well as on their families and society as a whole.