Conflicts

The Middle East and North Africa is a region rife with tension and instability. People are being killed in conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, Sudan and between Israelis and Palestinians.

Countries such as Lebanon face the threat of becoming active war zones because of political uncertainty over who will lead the nation into the future. Many Lebanese fear that another devastating civil war could break out at any moment.

A large number of countries in the region are politically stable, but lack real political freedom, which makes their populaces worry about the future as their long-time leaders grow older. The lack of jobs and hope for a positive future among young people also leads to tensions that sometimes boil over into riots.

Other widespread societal problems in the region include lack of women’s empowerment, stress caused by high unemployment, spousal abuse, lack of quality educational opportunities, and increased drug use, which increase tensions and conflict.