War diverts essential and often scarce resources from those who need it to survive towards the war effort. It also damages the infrastructure put in place to support healthcare. War forces people to flee their homes in search of safety, with the largest figures from the UN estimating that around 70 million people are currently displaced due to war. This displacement can be incredibly detrimental to health, with no safe and consistent place to sleep, wash and shelter from the elements. As well as impacting physical health, war adversely affects the mental health of both those actively involved in cunflict and civilians.
DIsplaced people
War causes civilians to leave their homes in search of safety. Recent data estimates that there are currently 70 million people who have lost their homes due to conflict. This displaced populations are at a greater risk of diease and illness. War inevitably reduces access to clean water, food and sanitation. Lack of access to clean water can also enhance the prevalence of cholera and other water- borne illnesses. Cholera can spread relatively quickly through a population living closely.
Women's health
The impact of war on health are strongly gendered. While men are traditionally more likely to die or become injured in battle, women are more likely to be left to face the lasting consequences of conflict on health. Access to such services is thought to significantly impact the safety of giving birth. Women also face an increased risk of rape during violent conflict. Rape and sexual violence are often used as a tool of war.These war crimes result in both physical and psychological injury to the women at the hands of the violent assaulters.
Children's health
Children's health is strongly linked with maternal health. As discussed above, war can have significantly detrimental impact the health of their children, particularly children born during conflict.
Children born during conflict are at a higher risk of being of a low birth weight, which is associated with an increased risk of infant mortality, poorer health in later life, and childhood developmental problems. Additionally, vaccination programmes are limited during times of armed conflict. This can significantly increase a child's chances of contracting what are now largely preventable dideases. Overall, children born into conflict and those who are children at the time conflict breaks out are at a greater risk of a multitude of health issues due to the impact of war on metarnal health, the lack of access to healthcare and the harsh living conditions they face.
Mental health
Finally, many studies have shown that war has negative impact on the mental health of both those involved in the conflict and civilians. People who live through war face psychologically challenging situations, often being uprooted from their homes, facing food insecurity, and constant fear of death and injury to name a few. This invitably causes damage to a person's psychological well-being and can exacerbate existing problems.
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