The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines war as a state of hostility, antagonism, or a struggle between opposing forces. Recently, tensions between Iran, Israel, and the United States have escalated into something that closely mirrors this definition. What started as political disagreements over nuclear ambitions and regional influence has quickly evolved into missile strikes, drone attacks, and air raids. This is enough to raise global fears of a wider conflict.
War, if anything, is known to come with casualties. One would think these casualties are limited to the countries directly involved. Oftentimes, that is not the case.
An African proverb says, “when elephants fight, the grass suffers.” A simple way to describe how people, like Yakubu, who have nothing to do with a conflict can still be dragged into its consequences.
Yakubu is the average person, pushed into difficult conditions they did not create, holding on with the hope that things will eventually ease. The teacher at a primary school in Kenya. The cashier living on minimum wage in Lebanon. People now living as the surviving casualties of the elephant fight.
One of the earliest signals of this is the movement in global oil prices. Even for a country like Nigeria, which produces oil and now operates the Dangote Refinery, citizens have still had to deal with rising fuel prices. The Strait of Hormuz, which accounts for a significant portion of global oil supply, sits within a highly sensitive region. Any threat to that route creates uncertainty. Uncertainty alone is enough to push prices upward. Fuel becomes more expensive, transportation costs rise, and everyday living becomes harder. In this way, even those far removed from the conflict begin to feel its weight.
ALSO READ: Plateau govt declares curfew in Jos North after bandit attack
Another example is in healthcare. Disruptions tied to the conflict have affected the movement of medical supplies, including those used in combating diseases like Cholera in parts of Africa. Countries with no direct connection to the conflict are left dealing with shortages that could worsen public health conditions. It is a reminder that in times of war, even aid and essential services are not spared from disruption.
The impact stretches further. Egypt, a country that relies heavily on imported energy, has had to slow down state projects in response to rising costs and economic pressure. Projects that could improve lives or strengthen the economy are suddenly paused. This is not because of internal failure, but because of a conflict happening elsewhere.
Yakubu didn’t start this conflict, but he feels it. From higher fuel prices to rising costs of goods, the effects show up in everyday life. It is easy to watch events like these from a distance and feel detached, but war rarely stays contained.
The elephants may be strong enough to fight, but the grass has no such choice.
And like many conflicts before it, this one continues to produce casualties far beyond the battlefield. An end to it is not just in the interest of those directly involved, but for people like Yakubu, who bear the weight of a war they did not start.