War and civil strife characterized Afghanistan's history even before the events of Sept. 11, 2001. The Soviet Union invaded in 1979, but was forced to withdraw 10 years later by anti-Communist mujahiddin. Factional fighting subsequently resulted in a state of warlordism that brought the Taliban to power in the mid-1990s.
In the wake of military action to root out Al-Qaeda and Taliban, Afghanistan suffers from enormous poverty, a crumbling infrastructure and widespread landmines.
Civilians, including women and children, often are the most adversely affected by conflict as infrastructure deteriorates, and access to basic needs, such as health care, is interrupted. Almost 50 percent of all Afghan children are malnourished. Over 20 percent of Afghan children under 5 die every year.
Since 1980, Afghanistan has had the world's largest refugee population. Six million Afghans have fled the country, and an additional 2 million are internally displaced. Roughly 2 million Afghans returned to their country in 2002.
Angola
Slightly smaller than twice the size of Texas (approximately 481,000 sq. mi.), Angola is bordered by Namibia, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Zambia and the Atlantic Ocean. It is divided into 18 provinces, with the city of Luanda as its capital. The country became independent from Portugal on November 11, 1975.
As of July 2001, Angola's population was estimated to be more than 10 million. Only 42 percent of the population is literate; the average life expectancy is 38.6 years.
Despite its large oil reserves, diamonds and other natural resources, Angola remains one of the poorest countries in the world, largely the result of a quarter-century of civil war that has devastated the economy. Today, 85 percent of the population depends on subsistence agriculture for its livelihood. Oil production and related activities account for 45 percent of the gross domestic product.
A cease-fire agreement signed April 4, 2002, brought an end to more than 25 years of civil war in Angola. More than 1.5 million people died and almost 2 million people became refugees because of the conflict.
Iraq
Iraq covers an area of approximately 435,000 sq. km. bordering Kuwait, Iran, Turkey, Syria, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. Approximately 25 percent of land is arable, of which half is cultivated.
Iraq has the second largest proven oil reserves of any country and, prior to the Gulf War, the oil sector comprised 61 percent of GDP. Agriculture represented only 5 percent of GDP and industry 12 percent.
Of the approximately 24 million people in Iraq, around 80 percent are Arab and 15 percent are Kurdish, with several smaller ethnic groups representing less than 5 percent. Approximately 64 percent of Iraqis are Shi'ite Muslim, 33 percent Sunni Muslim and 3 percent of various other religious backgrounds.
Prior to the Gulf War in 1991, Iraq enjoyed a high standard of living and the majority of the population was in a relatively wealthy “middle class.” Most of the country had low infant mortality, high levels of education and access to potable water and sanitation.
The decade-long deterioration of Iraq's infrastructure, including water treatment facilities, has caused a decrease in the amount of drinkable water and an increase in disease. Typhoid jumped tenfold and diarrhea-related illnesses account for 70 percent of deaths among children.
The Persian Gulf War resulted in significant damage to Iraq's major cities and ports, and created hundreds of thousands of Iraqi refugees who fled to Turkey, Iran and Jordan.
Sudan
With a total area of more than 2.3 million sq. km., Sudan is the largest country in Africa.
During Sudan's 19-year civil war, more than 2 million people have been killed and more than 4 million have been displaced.
Peace talks began between the government of Sudan and the main rebel group, resulting in the signing of the Machakos Protocol in July, 2002.
Since 2002, there have been several rounds of peace talks, which are still ongoing, focusing on such key issues as power- and wealth-sharing.
Agriculture production employs about 80 percent of Sudan's work force but civil war, chronic instability and adverse weather have kept most of the country's 37 million people at or below the poverty line.
