Nations at war can cause public health emergencies, according to experts.
In the current Israel-Hamas war, there have been many reports of tragedies, including injury, incapacitation, destruction of property, and death.
Experts contend that wars are not merely diplomatic crises but also serious public health matters with long-term implications.
Both Israelis and Palestinians, and people in other zones of conflict, might face shortages of basic resources like food and water, and also undergo extreme psychological stress. Displacement further increases the health risks for those forced to leave their homes.
In addition, the trauma and emotional effects of such conflicts do not stop with those in the conflict zones but can affect people all over the world.
In almost all recent conflicts, a disturbing trend is that civilians who are not involved in combat bear the brunt, either in conventional warfare or terrorism, Dr. Barry Levy, a doctor and adjunct professor of Tufts University School of Medicine who studies the public health impact of war and terrorism, told ABC News.
It is the civilians who tend to be caught in the middle, subjected not only to the direct effect of explosive blasts but also to residual health consequences that may extend even after hostilities have stopped,” he continued.
Lack of access to food, water
Individuals living in areas of conflict usually struggle to get basic necessities such as food, clean water, and warmth.
Israel declared a “total siege” on the Gaza Strip, limiting the delivery of food and water and interrupting power to the area.
Levy stated that when civilian infrastructure is attacked and destroyed, it prevents people from accessing food and denies them shelter and sanitation.
Such situations increase the likelihood of malnutrition, particularly in infants and toddlers, potentially leading to developmental complications and cognitive impairment.
Stress beyond the war zone
Research shows that people living in conflict zones are at a higher risk of various mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), among others.
The stress, anxiety, depression, and PTSD, however, extend beyond the ones directly involved; they can also reach the families and friends of the people in war zones and even the community at large.
Dr. Jack Tsai, who is a regional dean and a professor at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health in San Antonio, explained further that the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, a guide to diagnosis from the American Psychiatric Association, identifies PTSD as not only an experience firsthand but also as an experience that could be caused by witnessing trauma.
“So, people can get PTSD from just seeing traumatic events. And with the omnipresence of social media now, the Middle East conflicts, for example, are showing imagery that wasn’t available to the masses before,” he noted.
“This exposure, I think, increases the danger of PTSD, not only for those immediately impacted in the conflict zone, but also for millions around the world who are just viewing the developing events through their screens.”
Health risks of displacement
Many Israelis and Palestinians have been forced to move to other cities or even across borders, a situation that can have a profound effect on mental health. “This involuntary displacement can greatly interfere with their everyday mental well-being,” said Tsai. “These displaced persons have to adapt to new environments, new faces, and new cultures. These adjustments can be difficult, impacting both their mental and physical health in countless ways.”
Secondly, involuntary displaced individuals are prone to contagious diseases like COVID-19 and measles and are at an increased risk of spreading them.
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, health experts were concerned about the spread of COVID, particularly as Ukraine had a previously low vaccination rate prior to the conflict.
Infectious diseases, especially respiratory ones, become a serious issue in times of conflict because of the congestion of populations,” Levy noted. “Imagine people jammed into shelters, refugee centers, or like facilities.”
Levy went on to highlight another worrying problem: the possible spread of diarrheal diseases such as cholera, commonly caused by a lack of clean water.
