As you read this, there are more than 40 conflicts unfolding in countries around the world. 

The science is clear. It’s the deal, as ever, that’s complicated.

Highlights and multimedia on the West Africa Ebola outbreak.

After billions of dollars spent and countless lives lost, the war on drugs has been at best a misguided endeavor. IRIN explores the collateral damage wrought by global drug policy in developing countries.

Since a coup in March 2013, any semblance of law and order in the Central African Republic has vanished. The state has ceased to exist. As rebels-turned-bandits, mostly Muslim, battle Christian self-defence units, violence is spiraling out of control. Hundreds of thousands of people have fled their homes. As world powers finally begin to intervene, IRIN presents a detailed, analytical picture of events in a country on the brink of catastrophe.

This documentary series presents a detailed anatomy of Kenya before the 4 March 2013 elections, through interviews with civil society experts, portraits of people from all walks of life, as well as a wealth of key data. It addresses key questions such as: Will devolution really bring power to the people? What drives the divisions between Kenyan communities? Why do Kenyan elections tend to trigger violence? Is Kenya ready if it happens again? Is there any justice for victims of such violence?

Around the globe, children cope with extraordinary hardships that belie their youth. They suffer violence inflicted by adults, they endure back-breaking work, they are left to fend for themselves in the world.