Conflict and War

Palestinian children ride a pair of dyed donkeys in the Mara Land Zoo. An authentic zebra would have been too expensive to smuggle. Photo: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/plasmastik/4138782760/"/>REUTERS/Mohammed Salem(flickr)</a>

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Israel's Blockade A "Death Penalty" for Business in Gaza

War has left the Gaza Strip in shambles, but bombs and bullets are only part of the disaster. The Israeli blockade of Gaza has also created a crisis for business in the region.

Small farms dot an African hillside.Photo: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dapperscoo/120062600/">Scott the Hobo (flickr)</a>

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Land distribution in Africa

Land reform anywhere, let alone in Africa, does not usually find itself dominating the front page headlines of any major newspapers. Perhaps it should.

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November Comment of the Month

November's Comment of the Month was sent in by Sarah Standish of Portland, Oregon. Sarah commented on Alok Amatya's post Dairy Cows Fight Terrorism in Fallujah.

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'We don't want a donation, we want a business.'

It's hard enough to keep a business afloat these days, much less develop a hit product for one of the largest department store chains in the U.S.

Iraqi women are caught in the crossfire between military troops and insurgents. Can dairy farming help bring peace to Fallujah? Photo: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashclements/446232994/">.ash (flickr)</a>

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Dairy Cows Fight Terrorism in Fallujah

Here's an innovative way to expand economic opportunity for Iraqi widows and reduce the threat of terrorism: give the women a dairy cow and teach them how to take care of it.

Rioting in the Nairobi slum of Kibera following the post-election violence of early 2008. Photo:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/httpwwwactionpixsmarukocom/2182826606/">Tom Maruko (Flickr)</a>

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Kenyan IDPs: Two Years Later and Still No Home

An ultimatum handed down by Kenya’s President Mwai Kibaki has dissolved one of the few remaining internally displaced people (IDP) camps within the country.

Israel's ban on the import of building materials means that very little reconstruction has taken place since the 22-day Israeli offensive at the beginning of the year. Photo: Linda Mason for Mercy Corps

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Gazans, Caught Between Two Sides of a Stalemate

For the past several years, Gaza has suffered from a humanitarian crisis that waxes and wanes in severity, but never entirely disappears.

A man delivers his goods through a flooded street in Mumbai, India. Photo: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hussain_quantum/3698717526/">Hussain_Quantum (flickr)</a>

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A Climate of Displaced People

It should be no surprise that armed conflicts force millions of people from their homes each year. In fact, 4.6 million people were displaced by conflict and war in 2008.

The Indus River has the potential to provide hydroelectric power to millions - who will hold power over that power is what's causing a logjam. Photo: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/michaelfoleyphotography/414191328/">Michael Foley (flickr)</a>

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India and Pakistan Race to Complete Competing Hydroelectric Projects

India and Pakistan have both vowed to build hydroelectric dams along an upper branch of the Indus river, only 70 kilometers apart from each other. Two new hydroelectric power sources would seem like good news for these energy-hungry economies, but there's a catch.

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A New Threat to Afghanistan

Afghanistan is facing a dangerous new threat, but it does not involve suicide bombers or roadside explosives.

Iraq's most lucrative export after oil - dates - has seen declining production since the American-led invasion began in 2003. Photo: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ikhlasulamal/3542981557/">Ikhlasul Amal (flickr)</a>

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Declining Dates in Iraq

The U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 and the subsequent violence has left the country struggling to survive. Now, Iraq’s economy is suffering even more due to declining production in one of its most thriving exports after oil: dates.

Displaced Swat Valley citizens await food and water in a refugee camp. Photo: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/bbcworldservice/3512171697/">bbcworldservice (Flickr)</a>

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UPDATE: Returning to Swat Valley

As the Pakistani Army continues to defend the Swat Valley against Taliban insurgents, some of the millions of displaced residents are beginning to return home.