The Intersection of Health and Conflict: Syria and Iraq

Around the world, armed war, conflict and violence have had a significant impact on the way healthcare is delivered. This can be seen in the Syrian Civil War, the Iraq War, and in humanitarian crises such as the Rohingya Refugee Crisis. On this week’s episode of Beyond the Headlines, we discuss the intersection of health and conflict. We investigate the impact of conflict in terms of policy-making and its implementation, the strain and toll that is taken on the State, decision-making, the role of private and on-the ground non-profit actors, and the responsibility of large multinational organizations such as the World Health Organization. We dive into these issues through the unique perspectives of Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish, Ahmad Firas Khalid, and Ruby Gill.

Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish is a medical doctor, author and public health professor at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto.

Ahmad Firas Khalid is a medical doctor, a health policy advisor, and a lecturer on health systems and policy.

Ruby Gill is a Registered Nurse with an International Masters’ in Health Leadership from McGill University.

This episode was produced by Senior Producer Erin Anderson-Birmingham, Junior Producer Geneviève Tallemeister, and Junior Producer Wahaj Alam, with support from Executive Director Alex Gold-Apel.