Across the world from Mexico to Somalia, thousands are dying in conflicts that seldom make headline news. Here are six wars that too frequently slip under the radar.
Yemen: Devoid of the oil-wealth of its neighbours, Yemen is the poorest country on the Arabian peninsulaA piece of land that sticks out from a larger area and is mostly surrounded by water. . A civil warA war between people from the same country. that has been raging there since 2015 has killed anywhere from 20,000 to 60,000 people.
Yemen is split between Sunnis and Shia, the two main branches of Islam. In March 2015, the HouthisAn Islamist rebel group that controls a large part of Yemen. They are allies of Hamas in Gaza. , a Shi'ite militia, overthrew the government. Saudi Arabia then launched a huge bombing campaign to restore the government.
The conflict is effectively a proxy warA war instigated by major powers over issues that do not only concern the countries involved. between Iran, the home of Shi'ite Islam, and Saudi Arabia, representing Sunni Islam. Islamic State (IS) and al-Qaeda terror groups have exploited the situation and are now competing to control land.
Ukraine The largest country wholly in Europe sits in the buffer zone between Russia and the European Union. The conflict started in 2014 when the pro-Russian government was ousted in a coupWhen an individual or group takes control of government by illegal means, including by violence.. This sparked counter-protests in the east of the country, which has strong cultural ties to Russia. This escalated into a conflict between Russian-backed separatists and the Ukrainian army.
Over 10,000 people have been killed. The current situation has been described as a "frozen conflict". In other words, there has been no peace treaty and no end that satisfies both sides, but fighting has largely subsided.
Nigeria Africa's most populous country is split between the relatively wealthy Christian south and the poorer Muslim north. In 2012, a group of Islamist militants in the north called Boko HaramBoko Haram (literally 'Western education is forbidden') are a brutally violent organisation responsible for thousands of civilian deaths, as well as attacks on schools and the infamous kidnapping of 276 teenage girls. launched a rebellion. They then allied themselves with Islamic State.
The violence escalated dramatically in 2014, and Boko Haram gained worldwide infamyBeing well known for something bad. when it abducted 276 female students.
Over 50,000 people have been killed in the conflict, and 2.4 million displaced. But a counter-offensive in 2015 forced Boko Haram into a small corner of the country's north-east, where it has largely remained.
Somalia A country in east Africa. Since 1991 it has been torn apart by civil war, and until 2012 it lacked even a central government.Few countries sum up the term "failed state" better than SomaliaA country in east Africa. Since 1991 it has been torn apart by civil war, and until 2012 it lacked even a central government. in east Africa. The country has been unstable for decades, but the current conflict started in 2009.
The main conflict is between the country's official government, aided by the US, and various Islamist groups, the most famous of which is al-Shabaab.
Having once controlled the majority of southern Somalia, al-Shabaab has now been pushed out to a few coastal enclaves. However, two bombings in October 2017 in the capital, Mogadishu, killed 358 people. The situation remains unstable.
Libya Libya has descended into total anarchyA situation in which there are no rulers. The term can be used to describe complete political chaos or mob rule, but those who call themselves anarchists generally believe in mutual aid and cooperation, not a war of all-against-all. in the wake of the Arab SpringA series of mass protests across the Arab World against dictatorships that had stood for decades. In Tunisia, the protesters succeeded in creating a democratic government, but many other countries collapsed into civil war or experienced new dictatorships.. Since then, around 40,000 people have lost their lives.
This is no binary conflict, with at least five different groups controlling parts of this vast country, but the two main groups are the "Tobruk-led government", which rules much of the east of the country, and the Government of National Accord, which runs the capital, Tripoli.
This lawlessness has enabled Libya to become the main passage for African migrants travelling to Europe. In coastal cities, migrants are frequently sold as slaves for as little as $400 each.
Mexico The conflict in Mexico is unique and the most deadly of this warfare. It killed 29,168 in 2017, but is not based on religion, nationalismLoyalty and devotion to one nation, and seeing its interest as separate to the interests of others. or ideologySet of beliefs..
It is a drug war.
Since the demise of the Colombian drug cartels in the 1990s, the power of Mexican drug gangs has increased dramatically. They dominate the wholesale illicitNot legally permitted or authorised. drug market and control 90% of the cocaine entering the US.
The current conflict dates from 2006 when the Mexican military began to intervene. Although key figures are frequently arrested, violence continues to increase as more cartels sprout up to fight for control.
Peninsula - A piece of land that sticks out from a larger area and is mostly surrounded by water.
Civil war - A war between people from the same country.
Houthis - An Islamist rebel group that controls a large part of Yemen. They are allies of Hamas in Gaza.
Proxy war - A war instigated by major powers over issues that do not only concern the countries involved.
Coup - When an individual or group takes control of government by illegal means, including by violence.
Boko Haram - Boko Haram (literally 'Western education is forbidden') are a brutally violent organisation responsible for thousands of civilian deaths, as well as attacks on schools and the infamous kidnapping of 276 teenage girls.
Infamy - Being well known for something bad.
Somalia - A country in east Africa. Since 1991 it has been torn apart by civil war, and until 2012 it lacked even a central government.
Anarchy - A situation in which there are no rulers. The term can be used to describe complete political chaos or mob rule, but those who call themselves anarchists generally believe in mutual aid and cooperation, not a war of all-against-all.
Arab Spring - A series of mass protests across the Arab World against dictatorships that had stood for decades. In Tunisia, the protesters succeeded in creating a democratic government, but many other countries collapsed into civil war or experienced new dictatorships.
Nationalism - Loyalty and devotion to one nation, and seeing its interest as separate to the interests of others.
Ideology - Set of beliefs.
Illicit - Not legally permitted or authorised.
Forgotten wars

Glossary
Peninsula - A piece of land that sticks out from a larger area and is mostly surrounded by water.
Civil war - A war between people from the same country.
Houthis - An Islamist rebel group that controls a large part of Yemen. They are allies of Hamas in Gaza.
Proxy war - A war instigated by major powers over issues that do not only concern the countries involved.
Coup - When an individual or group takes control of government by illegal means, including by violence.
Boko Haram - Boko Haram (literally 'Western education is forbidden') are a brutally violent organisation responsible for thousands of civilian deaths, as well as attacks on schools and the infamous kidnapping of 276 teenage girls.
Infamy - Being well known for something bad.
Somalia - A country in east Africa. Since 1991 it has been torn apart by civil war, and until 2012 it lacked even a central government.
Anarchy - A situation in which there are no rulers. The term can be used to describe complete political chaos or mob rule, but those who call themselves anarchists generally believe in mutual aid and cooperation, not a war of all-against-all.
Arab Spring - A series of mass protests across the Arab World against dictatorships that had stood for decades. In Tunisia, the protesters succeeded in creating a democratic government, but many other countries collapsed into civil war or experienced new dictatorships.
Nationalism - Loyalty and devotion to one nation, and seeing its interest as separate to the interests of others.
Ideology - Set of beliefs.
Illicit - Not legally permitted or authorised.