When Bombs Fall, Hearts Break: The Human Cost of War on Health

This article was exclusively written for The European Sting by Mr. Addonai Teixeira, a Brazilian medical student and active member of the International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations (IFMSA. He is affiliated with the International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA), cordial partner of The Sting. The opinions expressed in this piece belong strictly to the writer and do not necessarily reflect IFMSA’s view on the topic, nor The European Sting’s one.

Picture the process of watching both your home and your livelihood get destroyed, your loved ones and friends broken by conflict, and your hometown besieged — the specific place and people that until now delineated your existence devastated by the violent quest for political dominance. If this account resonates with you as fundamentally unfair, then, like me, you recognize that war is a crime against our common humanity and should be prevented at all costs.

In 2024, an estimated 162,000 direct deaths were attributed to armed conflict—a number that only begins to suggest the total impact of war. In addition to the direct deaths, the consequences of war extend much further. Survivors commonly suffer from conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder, physical disability, and severe economic insecurity. Displacement pushes numerous individuals into vulnerable living situations, concurrently causing a lot of individuals to lose their access to fundamental healthcare services — both in their home countries or as refugees. The effects of these issues are further compounded for marginalized communities, including women, elderly individuals, LGBTQIA+ groups, children, and individuals living with disabilities.

Yet, war does not only kill using bombs and bullets; it launches a stealthy assault on health systems. Hospitals are specifically targeted or left in rubble, creating a severe lack of medical supplies, while medical personnel are also victims of the attack. Preventable diseases quickly spread in crowded refugee camps with inadequate sanitation. Psychiatric emergencies also rise as trauma, grief, and horror deeply pervade the collective psyche of affected communities. The effects of conflict are not only material; they enter the psyche and spirit and continue in the minds of future generations long after the fighting has stopped. 

This humanitarian emergency does not conclude with a peace agreement. When healthcare infrastructure is destroyed, maternal and child mortality rates increase, routine vaccinations are suspended, and non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and heart disease are left untreated. The breakdown in public health systems makes individuals more vulnerable to future health crises, creating cycles of misery.

As the world steps into a new era, it is imperative for us to reconsider the kind of future we wish to build together. In an age where AI can unravel complex problems within seconds, where conversations can happen across thousands of miles in an instant, and where we are painfully reminded that global health is not the burden of a single nation but a shared responsibility — shouldn’t war and violence feel like relics of a distant past? What are we missing? Do we not possess the tools, the resources, and the knowledge needed to tackle our collective challenges? Or is it that those in power resist peaceful solutions because compromises and cooperation demand sacrifices they are unwilling to make?

About the author

Addonai Teixeira is a Brazilian medical student and active member of the International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations (IFMSA), currently serving on the Standing Committee on Human Rights and Peace (SCORP) International Team. They have coordinated human rights and peace initiatives nationally and locally with IFMSA Brazil, while leading international campaigns on health equity, vulnerable populations, and climate justice. Dedicated to global health, environmental sustainability, and humanitarian causes, Addonai has worked on projects addressing health disparities, mental health awareness, and the impact of conflict on healthcare systems.