February 2025 marked three years since the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine which has deeply affected the country and its people, leaving widespread hardship and destruction in its path. Elderly women, who represent over 60% of Ukraine’s aging population, are among the most vulnerable groups impacted by the conflict, yet their plight remains […]
Category: conflict settings
Building Bridges: How Community Leaders Foster Mental Health in Crisis Situations
Introduction In the northeastern part of Myanmar, a place where the ongoing violence and conflict are still present, an extraordinary group of volunteers emerged as a beacon of hope. Despite the communication, transportation and challenges such as own trauma, these volunteer leaders have taken the role of providing the Mental Health Psychosocial Support […]
Challenges of a medical student in Gaza
My name is Nermeen abo Mostafa, and I am a medical student in Gaza. Do you know how I study? Do you ever wonder how the medical students of Gaza access and submit their exams? Despite the power outage and the lack of books, I walk long distances to search for good internet so […]
Scaling up community-led public health response: The perspective from and for Gaza
In the aftermath of October 7, 2023, continuous violence in Gaza has resulted in a significant loss of life in a short timeframe, multiple forced displacement, an alarming rate of reported infectious disease cases, concerning estimates of mental health issues, and an impending famine. The destruction of infrastructure, shortages of water, lack of shelter, […]
Confronting the manufactured famine in Gaza, Palestine
It is our duty as healthcare professionals to prevent humanitarian crises. Yet, we are currently witnessing a preventable famine unfold in Gaza, Palestine. On 18 March 2024, The Famine Review Committee (FRC) of The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification described the Gazan population as the “highest share of people facing high levels of acute […]
Exploring art therapy as a means of stress reduction in Myanmar’s turbulent environment
Introduction In the midst of tough times in Myanmar, especially since the military took over in February 2021, stress has been on the rise. Life has become harder for many people. But there is something surprising and powerful comes in—art. Yes, drawing, painting, and being creative have become like a helping hand, a way […]
‘Pity the region’* – Gaza and the politics of health in the Middle East
A region of protracted conflict: the perennial template of suffering The humanitarian situation in Gaza is a catastrophe. Sixteen years of blockade has left Gaza in a fragile humanitarian state. However, the current conflict is one of many humanitarian disasters that has afflicted the region since the Arab Awakening in 2011; protracted conflicts in […]