From Vietnam to Iraq: The continuing adverse health consequences of war on noncombatant civilians

Despite assurances by the U.S. military to minimize the adverse health consequences of war on noncombatant civilians and despite international conventions to protect noncombatant civilians during armed conflict, there have been similar patterns of civilian morbidity and mortality in both the Vietnam War four decades ago and the current Iraq War. While some of the adverse health consequences of war continue to be the direct result of armed combat, most of these adverse consequences relate to damage to and destruction of the health-supporting infrastructure of society, forced migration, violation of human rights, and diversion of resources. This presentation will examine these patterns and what public health workers and others can do to protect civilians during warfare and to help create a world without war.