Pandemics in Conflict Zones: A Human Security Crisis Beyond Disease

Avi Terali

View of victims of the Spanish flu cases as they lie in beds at a barracks hospital on the campus of Colorado Agricultural College, Fort Collins, Colorado, 1918. (Photo by American Unofficial Collection of World War I Photographs/PhotoQuest/Getty Images)

When most people catch a common cold, they can take medicine, visit a doctor, or rest at home until they recover. But for millions of people living through war, armed conflict, or genocide, these basic options do not exist. Hospitals are destroyed, doctors flee for safety, and clean water becomes scarce. In these conditions, even minor illnesses can become life-threatening. Conflict not only takes lives through violence; it also destroys the healthcare systems that people depend on to survive. When conflict devastates healthcare infrastructures, pandemics cease to be solely medical emergencies and become human security crises that threaten survival, dignity, and fundamental human rights.

Armed conflict often targets or damages hospitals, clinics, ambulances, and medical supply chains. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), conflict frequently leads to the disruption of health systems, the collapse of essential medical supply chains, the departure of healthcare workers, and increases in epidemics and starvation. 

When healthcare facilities become inaccessible, people cannot receive routine treatment, vaccinations, maternal care, or emergency medical assistance. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) notes that attacks on healthcare facilities can cause entire health systems to collapse, cutting communities off from essential services. Conflict forces millions of people to flee their homes and seek refuge in overcrowded shelters, camps, or temporary settlements. These environments often lack clean water, sanitation systems, and adequate healthcare. 

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) warns that large-scale displacement can increase the risk of disease transmission. They use the Democratic Republic of the Congo as a focus, talking about the spread of the disease and the impact of the disease. According to UNHCR, "More than 2 million forcibly displaced people, including over 320,000 refugees, live in areas at risk...." Research examining these camps found that infectious disease outbreaks are a major concern during humanitarian crises.

Governments and international organizations frequently focus on military objectives, border security, and ceasefire negotiations during conflicts. While these concerns are important, healthcare access is often treated as a secondary issue. As a result, the lives of many are at stake due to inadequate access to basic medicine and care. If governments truly want to protect civilians during conflicts, healthcare infrastructure must be viewed as critical security infrastructure. Hospitals, clinics, healthcare workers, and medical supply routes should receive the same level of protection as other essential systems.

Policymakers should increase funding for emergency healthcare responses, strengthen protections for medical personnel, and ensure humanitarian organizations can safely deliver medical aid. Protecting healthcare is not only a humanitarian obligation but also a matter of security and human rights. A call to action must be made to help preserve human security and human rights.