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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Ryung Suh, MD, MPH and Brent R. Gibson, MD, MPH. Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 8421 Amanda Place, Vienna, VA 22180, 202.297.2444, ryungsuh@aol.com

The changing nature of warfare and the emerging patterns of military forces providing humanitarian assistance in conflict zones have raised questions and controversies about the proper role of military medical professionals in combat theaters of war. First, the question of whether military humanitarian assistance – specifically the use of public health and clinical health care professionals to provide care to indigenous populations – actually achieves tactical and strategic objectives remains unanswered. There are, however, a number of potential adverse impacts on non-governmental organizations, foreign assistance groups, and development entities that have been identified. This presentation reviews literature on the subject and summarizes discussions from a roundtable of military, medical, and foreign policy experts with respect to possible approaches and models for military humanitarian assistance that are more likely to yield the most strategic benefit for soldiers, protect the neutrality and independence of aid workers, and improve the lives of civilian non-combatants.

Learning Objectives:

• Explore whether military humanitarian assistance (e.g. provision of medical care by military medical assets) in a combat theater of war achieves tactical or strategic objectives.
• Identify potential adverse impacts on civilian aid efforts by non-governmental organizations and implications for humanitarianism and foreign assistance.
• Recommend approaches and models for military humanitarian assistance that are likely to yield the most strategic benefit for soldiers, protect the neutrality and independence of aid workers, and improve the lives of civilian non-combatants.

Keywords: International, Human Rights

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

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