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, […]
Category: Humanitarian settings
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 […]
‘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 […]
Mental health crisis in war-torn country – Ethiopia
The 2019 novel coronavirus shocked the world beyond our wildest imagination. The severe impact of this pandemic hinted at the fragility of our public health policy, disaster preparedness, and global collaboration. This global crisis is not entirely unprecedented; different scientific community members have predicted this and warned us, with a minor or insignificant response. […]
The impact of the war on the healthcare system in Ukraine
On February 24, 2022, Russia commenced a full-scale military invasion of Ukraine. The targeting of healthcare facilities has become part of the strategy and tactics of Russian invaders. The Ukrainian healthcare system was not exemplary even in peacetime. People suffering from chronic diseases often faced interruptions in the supply of medicines, doctors complained about […]
COVID-19 could slow the humanitarian response for the Ukraine crisis
COVID-19 incidence is decreasing after a recent surge across Europe. However, 2.8 million deaths were reported in the week 20th April just after COVID-19 precautions throughout the EU have been scaled back dramatically. Poland, which has welcomed the majority of Ukrainian refugees, ended its indoor mask mandate on March 28 for all public spaces […]
Battling COVID-19 in a war zone: a field doctor’s point of view from Yemen
Yemen has been embroiled in a brutal civil war since 2015. In June 2021, President Joe Biden announced his administration would donate 500 million doses of COVID vaccines to low-income countries. Prime Minister Boris Johnson followed shortly afterwards with an announcement of the British donating 100 million excess vaccines. These measures were celebrated around […]