By Rachelle Money

WIDESPREAD media coverage and political focus on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq has left Scots ignorant of where other world conflict zones are. An ICM survey commissioned by the British Red Cross, found that one in five Scots were unable to name five world conflict zones.

While 67% and 66% of those questioned identified Iraq and Afghanistan respectively, fewer than 5% of respondents were able to identify other major conflict hotspots, including Sudan, Lebanon, Somalia, Colombia and Uganda.

It was also found that more than 60% mistakenly believed Iraq and Afghanistan had experienced the highest death toll among civilians of any conflict in the last 10 years. Just 2% of those surveyed mentioned the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo, despite the fact 5.4 million people have died in the civil war.

David Peppiatt, head of humanitarian policy at the British Red Cross, said millions were being "neglected" in conflict zones: "Clearly people's focus is on Iraq and Afghanistan where UK forces are involved, but at the same time as these conflicts are unfolding, there are millions of people around the world whose lives are being torn apart in other, neglected conflict zones.

"Reports often focus on numbers dead or political ramifications, but behind every headline there are real people struggling to live against a background of violence. The impact of war on civilians is devastating - murder, sexual violence, displacement, disease, separation of families, lack of access to clean water and food."

In Sri Lanka, thousands of civilians, troops and Tamil Tiger rebels have been killed since a 2002 truce gave way to renewed civil war earlier this year. The British Red Cross estimates 70,000 people have been killed in fighting in the last 25 years. In August 2007, it was thought 460,000 people were internally displaced in Sri Lanka as a direct result of the civil war. Around one million landmines have been laid which has left large areas uninhabitable. The fighting has also laid waste to agricultural land, contributing to child malnutrition.

Manogartnam, 47, and her family fled their village of Vantharamulai in the Batticaloa district of eastern Sri Lanka during a bout of fighting.

"We were scared to return home because of the conflict and lived in camps," she said. "When we went back to our village, we no longer had a home. Everything was gone. Our house was set on fire and was completely destroyed."

Soon after fleeing, her father was shot dead and his body set on fire. The family were left destitute with no means of survival, or money for food or clothes.

Salija, 25, tells a similar story. She was forced to leave her home in Sathrukkondan, also in Batticaloa, after her grandparents "disappeared" in a massacre in the village, where most of the villagers were shot dead in the main square.

When they were finally able to return to Sathrukkondan, they found their home destroyed. They had no belongings, no savings, no business.

"I used to feel powerless to help those around me. I would see people going hungry and not being able to feed their children."

Salija's village has since received financial support from a charity to help regenerate the community.

The British Red Cross research was undertaken to establish levels of awareness among the public as it launches its Civilians and Conflict campaign. The charity has recently produced an online Alternate Reality Game called Traces of Hope, which challenges players to reunite a young man, Joseph, and his mother, who have been separated by conflict in Uganda.

To join in the game, click the link below.