There have been countless conflicts going within or between countries for centuries. The world is indeed
facing rising terrorism targeting civilians, with related deaths, injuries and severely affecting the living
conditions of millions of people. These conflicts have enormous effects on human health, both physical
and mental health and have the potential to affect huge number of people all at once. Since the current
conflict between Russian and Ukraine began, this has caused a dramatic escalation of a humanitarian,
health, and environmental emergency. Similarly, numerous conflicts are currently going on in different
part of the world and affecting the health and wellbeing of the large number of people.
War diverts essential and often scarce resources from those who need it to survive towards the war effort.
It also damages the infrastructure put in place to support healthcare. War forces people to flee their homes
in search of safety, with the latest figures from the UN estimating that around 70 million people are
currently displaced due to war. This displacement can be incredibly detrimental to health, with no safe
and consistent place to sleep, wash, and shelter from the elements. It also removes a regular source of
food and proper nutrition.
As well as impacting physical health, war adversely affects the mental health of both those actively
involved in conflict and civilians. War inevitably reduces access to clean water, food, and sanitation. This
further increases the risk of contracting communicable diseases. It elevates the risk of malnutrition and
diseases linked with malnutrition.
People who live through war face psychologically challenging situations, often being uprooted from their
homes, facing food insecurity, and constant fear of death and injury to name a few.
Helping countries to recover from disaster and conflict is key to building resilient, responsive health
systems. In these difficult circumstances, both the national and international health organizations can
come in to responding to urgent health service needs of the people affected and help to restore the
country’s health services.
Sources:
1. https://www.news-medical.net/health/The-Impacts-of-War-on-Global-Health.aspx
2. https://www.afro.who.int/regional-director/speeches-messages/health-impact-war-terror-aid-dr-
matshidiso-moeti-talking-points
3. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(22)01739-1/fulltext
