Sometimes there are people who have been tortured, raped, or may have severe physical or emotional injuries. In each of these circumstances, special services are needed to help the individuals recover and rebuild their lives. The main reason the refugee problem is so great today is because there are so many wars occurring in so many places, and because the nature of war has changed a great deal over the last century. Many groups fighting are not actually countries and so haven't signed the various international treaties and conventions. They may be small religious or ethnic groups.
Many wars are so confusing it is hard to know who to convince about obeying the rules.
Often commanders or 'war lords' are fighting within their own side for more power, and aren't controlled by anyone. Some weapons, such as landmines, chemical weapons and blinding laser weapons are very indiscriminate in who they affect, cause very bad effects for limited military gain and keep hurting people for years after peace is restored. Ethnic cleansing' means getting rid of people of a certain race from an area you are conquering. The world is then left with the problem of finding a place for these people, providing them with land, jobs, homes and keeping their families together. Activity 1 - The World at War Task 1.