OSLO, Norway, September 25 – A troubling new report from the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) reveals that a staggering 676 million women—nearly 17 percent of the global female population—now live within 50 kilometers of armed conflict zones. This figure marks the highest recorded since the Cold War’s conclusion, underscoring a disturbing trend of escalating violence and instability that disproportionately affects women.
The year 2024 has been identified as a historic peak for women’s exposure to armed conflict. The number of women residing in areas plagued by violence has more than doubled since 1990. This increase reflects a troubling combination of heightened global violence and conflicts encroaching into densely populated regions. According to the report, approximately 245 million women were found living in areas where conflict resulted in more than 25 battle-related fatalities, while 113 million women resided in zones where the death toll exceeded 100.
Bangladesh has emerged as a notable case, with nearly 75 million women living in close proximity to violent conflict, primarily due to nationwide protests in July and August that culminated in the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Meanwhile, in Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and Palestine, the report highlights that all women in these regions are directly exposed to deadly violence, illustrating the pervasive nature of conflict.
The repercussions of living near conflict zones are profound and multifaceted. Armed conflict not only undermines inclusion, justice, and security but is also linked to increased maternal mortality rates, a surge in gender-based violence, reduced access to education for girls, and widening employment disparities. These dire consequences threaten not only the immediate safety of women but also their long-term well-being and economic prospects, eroding the very foundations necessary for recovery and resilience.
“Conflict doesn’t just happen on the battlefield – it reaches into women’s homes, schools, and workplaces, disrupting the very foundations of their lives,” stated PRIO Research Director Siri Aas Rustad, the report’s author. “While some may find new roles in crisis, these opportunities are fragile. The hard truth is that war widens gender inequalities and leaves women at greater risk.”
The report also highlights significant regional disparities in the exposure of women to conflict. In Lebanon, for instance, an alarming 100 percent of the female population lives within 50 kilometers of conflict events where the death toll exceeds 100, indicating that all women in the country are vulnerable to high-intensity violence. In the Palestinian territories, nearly 80 percent of women reside near areas with more than 100 fatalities, with over one-third living close to zones where more than 1,000 deaths have occurred. Syria presents a similarly dire situation, with most women exposed to medium- and high-intensity conflict.
In Nigeria, the report points to particularly high-intensity violence faced by women in Borno State due to the ongoing threats from Boko Haram and the Islamic State, while women in the South-South region are increasingly affected by separatist violence.
The long-term developmental toll of this situation is profound. Countries with a significant proportion of women living near conflict zones consistently score lower on the United Nations Human Development Index, revealing the lasting impact of violence on education, health, and livelihoods. Extended conflicts, often overshadowed by more prominent wars, gradually erode social and economic structures, while cuts in international aid threaten to further destabilize these vulnerable regions and deepen existing challenges.
As the report starkly illustrates, the intersection of gender and conflict demands urgent attention and action. The international community must recognize the specific vulnerabilities faced by women in conflict zones and work towards solutions that prioritize their safety, rights, and opportunities for recovery. Only through concerted effort can we hope to mitigate the devastating effects of conflict on women and build a more equitable and peaceful future.
