Nowhere to Heal: The Human Cost of Displacement

This article was exclusively written for The European Sting by Ms. Miranda Zavala Hernández, a 21-year-old fourth-year medical student from Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico. She 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.

Conflict does not just destroy buildings and take lives; it displaces millions, leaving them without shelter, stability, or access to healthcare. Health is not just the absence of disease but a state of well-being one that is impossible to maintain when basic human needs are stripped away. Forced displacement puts individuals at extreme risk of disease. Overcrowding, lack of sanitation,and contaminated water lead to outbreaks of cholera, tuberculosis, and respiratory infections. Interrupted vaccination programs in conflict zones cause the resurgence of measles and polio.

Chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension can quickly spiral into medical crises when treatment is unavailable. A simple infection, easily treated in normal circumstances, can become fatal. Maternal and neonatal health deteriorates rapidly in conflict settings. Pregnant women are often forced to give birth in unsafe conditions, increasing the risk of complications, infections, and death. Without emergency obstetric care, preventable conditions like preeclampsia and obstructed labor become fatal. Displacement also fuels a mental health crisis. Exposure to violence, loss of family, and prolonged uncertainty contribute to skyrocketing rates of PTSD, anxiety, and depression. In many conflict-affected regions, mental health services are scarce, leaving survivors to suffer in silence.The consequences of untreated trauma manifest physically-through malnutrition, a weakened immune system, and chronic disease.

While talking about this topic it comes to mind a documentary I saw recentl, about forced displacement in the context of war, where a young man, shot while protesting spent days in the hospital fighting for his life. Though he survived, he returned to find his home destroyed. Worse, he was now paralyzed from the neck down. Forced to live in a cave, unable to access medical care, he became highly susceptible to infections a direct result of displacement turning healthcare into a privilege rather than a right. A similar reality exists closer to my own experience. In many rural communities, young doctors hesitate to practice due to escalating violence and insecurity. Entire villages remain without medical care, not because of a lack of willing physicians, but because of fear. Healthcare professionals who once served these communities are now forced to leave, leaving diseases untreated and maternal mortality rates climbing.

As future doctors, we often hear the phrase: “It’s not about treating the symptoms but the cause of the disease.” This principle extends beyond medicine. Despite the efforts of healthcare workers, as long as conflict continues to displace people, the health crisis will persist. Addressing the root cause of conflict and forced displacement is the only way to ensure healthcare is not just an emergency response but a fundamental right. Without stability, there is no healthcare. Without peace, there is nowhere to heal.

References

1. World Health Organization (WHO). Health and Conflict: Addressing the Public Health Consequences of War. Geneva: WHO; 2022.
2. UNICEF. The Impact of War on Childhood Immunization Rates: A Global Perspective. New York: UNICEF; 2023.
3. Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders). Maternal Mortality in Conflict Zones: A Preventable Crisis. MSF Report; 2021.
4. International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Mental Health and Displacement: The Overlooked Crisis in War-Torn Regions. ICRC Briefing; 2022.
5. Adra B, Ballal H, Abraham Y, Szor R. No Other Land [Documentary]. Red Sea Film Festival; 2024.
6. The Lancet Global Health. Violence Against Healthcare Workers in Conflict Zones: A Growing Threat to Public Health. The Lancet; 2022

About the author

Miranda Zavala Hernández is a 21-year-old fourth-year medical student from Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico. Passionate about global health, she has been actively involved in IFMSA, participating in various initiatives, including an international exchange that broadened her perspective on healthcare worldwide.

Her commitment to medicine extends beyond academics-she has taken partin projects focused on bringing healthcare and education to underdeveloped communities, striving to make a tangible impact. Through her experiences, she continues to advocate for accessible healthcare and the importance of medical outreach in underserved population