Impact of Ukrainian- Russian War on Health Care and Humanitarian Crisis

Abstract

Authors explore the influence of Russian aggression on Ukrainian health care and humanitarian crises. On February 24, 2022, Ukraine faced an unprovoked brutal Russian invasion resulting in multiple negative consequences. During the 3 mo of full-scale war, Russians damaged more than 600 hospitals and killed at least 12 medics. Access to health care is severely impacted due to security concerns, restricted mobility, broken supply chains, and mass population displacement. Health care continues to come under attack (including attacks against health facilities, transport, personnel, patients, supplies, and warehouses), with a total of 295 attacks on health care, resulting in 59 injuries and 76 deaths, reported between February 24 and June 15. Ministry of Health reported that 1658 medical workers had been forced to change their residence and became employed in other regions of the country. Russian aggression negatively influenced not only the medical system and economics, but it led to a humanitarian crisis in the whole of Ukraine.

Keywords: Ukraine; conflict; health care; humanitarian crisis; migration; warfare.