gender and war: the effects of armed conflict on women's health and mental health

gender and war: the effects of armed conflict on women

Health services in conflict zones are under attack One in five people living in a conflict zone has a severe mental health condition and 80% of people with symptoms of mental illness do not receive appropriate care. Combined with exposure to conflict and violence, they significantly impact the mental health of the population. The vast majority of conflict takes place in low- and middle-income countries, where risk factors such as poverty, unemployment and social isolation already substantially increase vulnerability to psychological distress. Mental health care and services also face a major challenge in insecure environments. These people require immediate and sometimes long-term care, which can be impossible to access safely. This is a major and extensive issue in conflict zones – in Syria, around 25,000 people were injured each month in 2016. The breakdown of healthcare as a result of conflict dramatically affects people with a physical injury. This is concerning, as not only does a conflict environment increase risk factors for heart disease, but there are few (or even no) services available to manage it. Because of this, NCDs now account for over half of all deaths caused by illness in Yemen.Ĭonflict zones can also make NCDs worse, particularly cardiovascular diseases. Not even half of the health facilities are functioning, and those that remain open are without basic equipment. In Yemen, the ongoing humanitarian crisis leaves many without access to essential care. Most people with NCDs require carefully planned and long-term care, which becomes increasingly hard to access in volatile and insecure environments.

In addition to the immediate impact of conflict, it also has a major effect on those already living with specific long-term healthcare needs, such as non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Governments, international bodies and humanitarian organisations have made attempts to protect health systems with policy, guidelines and frameworks, but are they prepared to cope at times of armed conflict? Armed conflict is a global health issue: it means extreme violence, displacement, destroyed infrastructure and institutions, and professionals and facilities that are under violent attack.

Severe, long-standing conflicts present a serious challenge to universal healthcare, as the impacts are indiscriminate across the health system. According to the World Bank, two billion people are currently living in fragile and conflict-affected regions.

Gender and war: the effects of armed conflict on women's health and mental health