TOP 5 COUNTRIES WHERE SURVIVAL IS DIFFICULT

Binayadash
7 min readFeb 16, 2023

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There’s no denying that each country has got its problems. Not even superpowers like the USA and China are perfect. They are just doing better than others in some aspects. It can be difficult to survive in any country due to various reasons such as poverty, lack of resources, or conflict. However, some countries are often considered particularly challenging due to their high poverty levels, political instability, and other factors. After reading this you might consider yourself very lucky to born in places other than the following countries :

5. SOUTH SUDAN

It is the most recently formed country at present which declared independence from Sudan on June 9, 2011. It has a history of conflict with Sudan over oil and gas fields that are present in S. Sudan. Sadly the conflict doesn’t stop there. There are over 11 million people, divided into 50 ethnic tribes in S. Sudan and have conflicts among them. Especially 2 major tribes i.e The Dinka(35%) and The Nuer (15%) are at the centre of this civil war which is going on since December 2013 resulting in mass killings and mass displacement.

According to reports around 50 thousand people leave the country per month and there are over 2 million S. Sudanese refugees living in shelter camps, making it the world’s largest refugee camp. Disease outbreaks and rape cases are very common in these camps. As per a report 70% of women in these camps have been raped which is a shameful number for humanity. There are over 70% of the population that needs urgent humanitarian assistance.

Another problematic topic is cattle raids. In South Sudan, cattle are equivalent to wealth. So people generally guard their cattle with weapons to protect their cattle from cattle raids and of course, this results in bloodshed. So all these ethnic, political and financial problems make south Sudan one of the most difficult countries to survive.

4. YEMEN

Yemen is considered one of the most challenging places to survive for several reasons.

Ongoing Conflict: Yemen has been embroiled in a civil war since 2015. It started when the Houthi rebels, who are Shia Muslims and backed by Iran, took control of the capital city of Sanaa and other parts of the country. This prompted the Saudi-led coalition, which includes several Arab countries and is backed by the United States and the United Kingdom, to launch a military intervention in support of the Yemeni government. The conflict quickly escalated into a full-scale war, with both sides engaging in air strikes, ground battles, and attacks on civilian infrastructure. The war has resulted in a severe humanitarian crisis, with millions of Yemenis suffering from food and water shortages, disease outbreaks, and a lack of access to medical care. According to the United Nations, the conflict has caused over 233,000 deaths, including both civilians and combatants, and displaced millions of people.

Economic Collapse: The conflict has devastated Yemen’s economy, leading to skyrocketing inflation, widespread unemployment, and a sharp decline in living standards. The cost of basic goods and services has risen sharply, making it difficult for many people to afford even the most essential items.

Cholera Outbreaks: Yemen has also experienced multiple outbreaks of cholera in recent years, which have been exacerbated by the lack of clean water and sanitation facilities. The disease has affected millions of people, with thousands dying as a result.

All these factors combined have made Yemen an extremely challenging place to survive, with millions of people facing hunger, disease, and displacement on a daily basis.

3. SYRIA

Syria has been the epitome of the proxy war between Russia and the U.S. for years now. The civil war that is going on since 2011 is showing signs of no end. As of December 2022, according to the GCR2P NGO, a minimum of 580,000 people is estimated to have been killed; with 13 million Syrians being displaced and 6.7 million refugees forced to flee Syria.

In between 2006–2010, Syria confronted the worst drought in its history. The drought had a massive effect on residents. It created agricultural failures, hence food insecurities. The combined effects of the drought and preexisting economic disparities under the Assad regime contributed to the first nonviolent pro-reform protests, in 2011, riding the wave of Arab Spring uprisings. Divisions between the country’s Sunni majority and the ruling ʿAlawite elite were also a factor. The regime’s harsh military crackdown escalated tensions, and by September 2011 the peaceful protests had become an armed insurgency. Even chemical weapons have been used not only against foreign aggressors but also against civilians.

At least 12.4 million Syrians — out of an estimated population of around 16 million — are food insecure, according to the World Food Programme (WFP), an alarming increase of 3.1 million in one year. More than 600,000 children are chronically malnourished. The Syrian government has exacerbated the economic crisis’ impact by failing to fairly and adequately address bread and fuel shortages, instead allowing discriminatory and inequitable distribution. Residents also report severe electricity cuts and shortages. With time, the situation of the country is becoming worse. Syria is now one of the major concerns of the UN. So, after all this, there’s no doubt that Syria does not provide a suitable environment to reside in.

2. NORTH KOREA

You might think that why is this country so high on the list? At first glance, it might look like a strong country due to Kim Jong-un’s boldness as a dictator but once you dig a bit into its stats then you will know how miserable life there can be.

As per reports, 60% of its population lives in poverty but the real reason why it’s so high on the list is something else. It’s their supreme leader and his stringent rules.

Here are some strange laws in N. Korea :

  • Every house should have a pic of its leader. Poor maintenance might result in punishment.
  • Nobody can keep the Bible or watch any foreign film.
  • Ordinary residents can’t use cars. There are only about 100 cars in the country.
  • Civilians can’t wear blue jeans because it represents America.
  • Internet isn’t available to civilians.
  • There are only 3 tv channels and they show what the government wants.
  • There are very limited hairstyles that people can have.
  • No civilian can travel to any foreign country without the government’s permission.

There are many more clunky rules like this and breaking these rules means either severe punishment or death. All these things together make this country a horrible place to live in.

1. AFGHANISTAN

I am sure everybody now conceives how chaotic Afghanistan and Taliban tension has become. Taliban is completely taking control over Afghanistan and the other nations can do nothing but criticize.

In 1993–1994, Afghan Sunni Muslim clerics and students, mostly of rural, Pashtun origin, formed the Taliban movement. It is widely believed that the USA is somehow responsible for the formation and strengthening of the Taliban as they provided weapons to these people during the cold war with Russia. Well, what’s important to us is how Afghanistan is now a living hell. So, Let’s get into that. Here is a list of things that are banned in Afghanistan :

* Cinema, TV, VCR, Music

*Football, Chess

*Photography

*Internet

*Clean shave

*NGOs, UN offices

*Education for girls above 10 years

*Foreigners

Of course, the list does not stop there. After this step, many countries started criticising it and even after all this, some nations like Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, UAE etc. recognised the Taliban as a nation. But let’s not forget that Afghanistan is also known as the graveyard of empires. The British, USSR, USA and many more tried to rule the country but returned home shamefully. So, it will be interesting to see how long the Taliban lasts. But for now, we can safely assume that Afghanistan is not a safe place to reside.

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What really makes a place suitable is its people. So, where ever you are if you search for chaos and remain unsatisfied with everything then surely you will convert heaven into hell. For example, beautiful countries like Ukraine are now up on this list. One of these countries might be peaceful in the future or your own country might be on this list a few years later. It all depends on you, The people.

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