The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) stated on the 25th that approximately 204 million people worldwide live in areas controlled or contested by armed groups, an increase of 30 million since 2021.
According to an ICRC survey, there are a total of 383 armed groups of humanitarian concern across the globe, distributed in more than 60 countries. Seventy-four million people live entirely under the control of armed groups, and 130 million people live in areas contested by different armed groups. Over one-third of these armed groups are parties to armed conflicts.
The ICRC pointed out that living in conflict areas means people must face uncertain boundaries of power and the fear of reprisals, having to weigh various risks. Many are deeply trapped in the quagmire of violence, labeled as "collaborators" of one side in the conflict, and fall victim to reprisals from the opposing side.
The ICRC urges all parties to armed conflicts to respect international humanitarian law, ensure the safety of civilians, and facilitate fair humanitarian access and participation.