Hurdles on the road to peace in the Central African Republic

A chronic lack of food and shelter, and the proliferation of armed actors, have increased vulnerability to survival sex, physical assault, and sexual violence.

This month marks seven years since the 2017 “clearance operation” when Myanmar’s military forces, the Tatmadaw, unleashed waves of violence against Rohingya ethnic minorities in Rakhine State, Myanmar. The conflict triggered the expulsion of over 700,000 Rohingya into neighboring Bangladesh, marking the largest and fastest influx into the country. The U.S. government later determined that these attacks constituted genocide and crimes against humanity.

Aid workers are increasingly being targeted by armed actors who seek to intimidate, coerce, or disrupt aid operations for strategic gains. In Gaza and South Sudan, in Yemen and the Central African Republic, disinformation campaigns are fueling hostility toward aid agencies. These threats not only endanger the lives of those dedicated to humanitarian action but also severely hinder access to essential aid for millions of vulnerable people in conflict-affected areas​.

Community centers in Afghanistan are offering a beacon of hope to thousands of Afghans who are trapped in harmful cycles of displacement and hardship. Decades…