Peace and security are necessary components of human life for growth and development to take place. However, there are certain parts of the world that have been ravaged by war, crime and general unrest that have left innocent civilians suffering from the crossfire created by rising violent crime. Some of these countries in question have had repeated episodes of violence over time with a consequent increase in crime rates, while others have had an uninterrupted history of violence. In most cases it is the innocent children and civilians who lose their lives and even tourists and visitors who survive each day to tell of the cruelty they survived, for with violence comes crime, which is one of the single most important factors that makes a country very dangerous. Below is a list ofmost dangerous countries with violent crime rates .
Most dangerous countries with the highest rates of violent crime
1. Somalia
Somalia has always been in the news for all the bad reasons. The greatest threats in Somalia include piracy and terrorism, as well as inter-clan fighting. This makes Somalia the most dangerous country in the world with one of the highest crime rates. This failed state earned this reputation not only for the pirates who captured 42 ships, but also for the chaos that reigns inland. The country has been under the rule of 14 different regimes since 1994. Warring clans are constantly fighting for power and territory control. Theft, human trafficking, unlawful killings of non-employees and general acts of violence are some of the activities that are prevalent in this East African country. Much of the country remains under the rule of warlords and militias,
2. Afghanistan
This country has become known as the headquarters of the world’s terrorists is the hideout of the world’s most feared terrorist groups namely Al Qaeda and Taliban. The operations of these terrorist groups are conducted here, making the country subject to the deadly consequences of the war on terror. This has endangered the country’s peace and innocent civilians are being forced to bear the brunt.
3. Iraq
Countries with high levels of violent crime would not be complete without mentioning Iraq. The security situation in that country has never improved since the US military invaded the country in an attempt to overthrow assassinated President Saddam Hussein. Iraqis have borne the brunt of interest groups that have moved in to take advantage of the unrest and form militant groups. Suicide bombings, kidnappings and target killings are the order of the day.
4. Syria
Many Arab countries are yet to recoverThe impact of Arab sources and Syria is one of them. Syrians have endured a hard time at the hands of militias who reined in terror after sectarian violence that has resulted in the deaths of many innocent civilians.
5. Sudan and South Sudan
South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011 but is said to still be at peace between the two states. They are in constant conflict over ownership of the oil-rich Abyei region. Internal strife still ravages the new country as they still bicker over oil regions. These riots have worsened the economic situation in the country. Hundreds of civilians have died as a result of fighting, hunger and famine.
6.Pakistan
Pakistan has been the target of terrorist groups because it is at the forefront of the war on global terror. Because of this situation, it is ranked #2 on the Global Terrorism Index. Numerous suicide bombings have plagued the country’s peace efforts, which has also greatly impacted the country’s economic well-being. Sectarian violence has also come to dominate some parts of the country, with attacks targeting the Shia. Hundreds of civilians die weekly as a result of drone strikes in the worst circumstances reported on the Pakistan-Afghan border.
7. Yemen
The negative impact of the Arab Spring is also yet to be mitigated in this Arab state, which used to be popular as a tourist destination. Yemen has also witnessed control by militia groups who kidnapped tourists and demanded huge amounts of ransom for their release.
8. Colombia
Colombia is what some people may consider to be the seat of the places with the highest crime rate. This nation has earned a reputation for being the kidnapping capital of the world as the country’s violent crime rate has skyrocketed. It is also known for its astoundingly high rate of violent homicides. There is constant unrest among the rebel groups who wage endless wars against the government. Colombia is also synonymous with drug cartels, with the government constantly cracking down on these cartels to take them down.
9. Honduras
Honduras is also synonymous with drug trafficking and gang violence, which is a major contributor to high rates of violence and crime. Poverty and poor law enforcement have been cited as key factors in the state of the unrest. This increased when former President Manuel Zelaya was ousted. Recently, Honduras has been considered the most dangerous country in the world outside of a full-fledged war zone. The homicide rate hit an unenviable global high of 85 per 100,000 people in 2012 and has been estimated at 90 per 100,000 per year if the threat is not addressed.
10. North Korea
This country may be isolated, but it is still ranked among the top ten most dangerous countries due to internal political conditions. First, tourists are not allowed to visit. It has the largest army in the world, so terrorism is not a threat. However, living in North Korea is considered dangerous as citizens are forced to comply with government demands. Failure to do so will result in death or imprisonment. In fact, the government rules with such an iron fist that for every 100,000 citizens there are 830 people in prison; this is the highest recorded rate in the world. Furthermore, the government has defiantly conducted nuclear tests despite international pressure to end its nuclear program.