ForgivenessWho or what are the casualties of conflict?

Many think war is sometimes unavoidable in response to aggression; others say war is never justifiable. Many Sikhs believe war is sometimes justified. They also value non-violence.

Part ofReligious StudiesGood and evil - Unit 1

Who or what are the casualties of conflict?

Estimated number of military and civilian fatalities in major UK conflicts since WW2.
Figure caption,
Estimated number of military and civilian fatalities in major UK conflicts since World War Two

The main casualties of war include:

  • servicemen and women who lose their lives or are injured
  • civilians who lose their lives or are injured
  • civilians who have their families, homes and way of life damaged or destroyed
  • damage to the country's infrastructure, eg roads and bridges destroyed
  • refugees who have to flee their country of birth to find safety

What is the role of the United Nations?

The was set up in 1945 after World War Two. It currently consists of 193 member states, including the UK. It was designed to stop wars between countries and provide a meeting place where countries could discuss their problems and hopefully come to an agreement.

The aim is to reduce the chance of wars happening and to help resolve issues before a declaration of war is felt necessary.