Conflict, the Environment and Humanitarian Action: a Critical Discussion for the World Humanitarian Summit

May 23, 2016 | Wim Zwijnenburg
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This week the much anticipated but also disputed World Humanitarian Summit begins in Istanbul. Its aim is to find ways to improve the global system of humanitarian assistance for the challenges posed by conflict, natural disasters, climate change and displacement. However, during the preparations for the summit, questions over how you minimise the environmental footprint of assistance, how you ensure it does no further environmental harm and how you measure and respond to the public health impact environmental risks was largely absent from the debate.

Conflict-related environmental damage is a growing cause for concern for humanitarian actors and civil society in war-torn countries. Recognition of the linkages between armed conflict, the environment and public health is a crucial first step towards a more holistic and inclusive humanitarian response that includes environmental analysis.  This will require political action and a systematic approach to address growing concern over the acute and chronic health risks from the environmental hazards created or exacerbated by conflicts.