There is no doubt that peace and health are closely connected. During war, people suffer not just from direct violence but also because essential services like hospitals and schools are damaged or shut down. Natural disasters can make these situations even worse, forcing countries to spend more money on conflict rather than health and well-being. War and violence are major threats to public health, but health can also be a tool for creating peace. Today, more people are working through health diplomacy, where countries and organizations collaborate to solve health problems together (Chattu and Knight, 2019).
Health diplomacy is essential for making health a top priority in discussions on peace and security. It aims to protect health care, strengthen collaboration, and fight poverty and inequality, helping to resolve conflicts and rebuild health systems (Pattanshetty et al., 2023).
Sudan shows how conflict makes life extremely hard. Globally, 1.5 billion people live in conflict zones needing basic health services. In Sudan, fighting displaced 3 million people and pushed 700,000 into nearby countries. Over 3,000 deaths, 6,000 injuries, and the shutting downing of half of the capital’s hospitals highlight the crisis (Pattanshetty et al., 2023).
Attacks on health workers, hospitals, and aid groups are a serious concern, as they must be protected even during war. Destroyed hospitals limit access to medicine and doctors, endangering civilians and severely harming the economy. Over time, damaged health systems worsen a country’s crisis and slow down the recovery progress (Pattanshetty et al., 2023).
Building strong, resilient health systems is very important, especially in conflict-affected areas where 80% of major disease outbreaks occur. The World Health Organization’s six building blocks—service delivery, workforce, information systems, medicines and vaccines, and financing—aim to create safer and stronger systems. However, constant instability makes applying this plan in war zones very challenging (Pattanshetty et al., 2023).
Global Health Diplomacy (GHD) is important but often underused in places like Palestine. In Gaza, GHD has failed to prevent major loss of life or repair widespread damage. Difficulties such as military occupation, systemic injustices, limited resources, weak international laws, and broken health systems have restricted its effectiveness. Initiatives like the Global Health Alliance for Palestine (GHA4P), led by Global South countries, plan to reform GHD by prioritizing local voices, addressing inequalities, and promoting better health and justice (Maidah and Alkhaldi, 2025).
In conclusion, enhancing health systems and promoting health diplomacy are important for building resilience and peace in conflict-affected areas. By prioritizing health, countries can support recovery, reduce inequalities, and create a more stable and just future.
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