War is also a determinant of environmental and occupational health in developing countries: Case studies from the Arab region

Occupational and environmental health (OEH) research and practice face many challenges in developing countries. War and conflict is one of them. Three case studies from the Arab region, namely Iraq, Lebanon, and Occupied Palestinian Territories, will be used to illustrate the impact of wars on ecosystems and consequently on people's livelihoods and work environment. Wars destabilize or destroy ecosystems and disrupt the social and economic fabric of societies forcing individuals and families to make hard choices including what and where to work. This situation adds yet another complexity to OEH research and practice that is usually forgotten by researcher and practitioners in developing and developed countries alike. It will be argued that war is becoming a global phenomenon and endemic in many regions of the world which requires a comprehensive and community-based participatory approach that is rooted in human rights and social justice principles.