Despite international laws that should protect people during armed conflict and war, we often see the heavy price that everyday people pay. Conflict violently uproots people, leaving them displaced in their own country or as refugees in another. Treacherous journeys and dire conditions at the place of destination jeopardise their physical and mental health.
What conflict means for our patients
Epidemics
Conflict and displacement can be catalysts for epidemics and disease outbreaks. Insecurity and collapsed health systems also cut people off from receiving preventative healthcare, including vaccinations that could protect them from these preventable diseases that turn deadly, especially for young children. In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), ongoing violence has forced millions of people from their homes, leaving them vulnerable to a host of endemic diseases. Between 2018 and 2020, MSF responded to the biggest outbreak of measles in decades and as of early 2021, the epidemic is far from over.
DID YOU KNOW?
Between 2018 and 2020, MSF teams in DRC vaccinated more than 2.3 million children against measles and treated 90,000 patients.
Photo: © FRANCK NGONGA/MSF
Photo: © Majd Aljunaid
Nutrition
Conflict more than often results in a collapse of the economy. People are unable to work and feed their families as the price of food soars along with transport costs, which can lead to malnutrition in both children and adults.
In Yemen, years of civil war has left the healthcare system devastated and infant and maternal mortality rates have soared, mainly as a result of malnutrition. Without humanitarian aid, many families would not eat at all.
MSF has worked in Abs district, Yemen, for over five years now. For many families, the hospital is their only lifeline, but the gaps in care remain enormous
Mental Health
As commodities become scarce during conflict, the price of basic food and necessities skyrocket, while fear, insecurity, and loss generate psychological distress. We regularly see an increase in sexual violence during conflict too.
Gwoza, a town in northeast Nigeria’s Borno state, is home to 60,000 people, many of them displaced from elsewhere by the ongoing conflict. Living conditions are difficult, there is little humanitarian aid, and frequent clashes take place between the military and armed groups. It was here that Abubakr was abducted by an armed group at just 5 years old. After five years, Abubakr found his way back to Gwoza and was treated at the MSF hospital for his injuries. It soon became clear that he was also suffering severe psychological distress. In this video, Maryam, an MSF counsellor, shares her experiences in treating Abubakr.
“MSF's work in Gwoza, alongside local health authorities, is regularly made up of success stories, so it’s crucial that mental healthcare is available to children and adults living in this situation.”- Kyla Storry.
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