“WHEN THE RICH WAGE WAR IT’S THE POOR WHO DIE.”
– Jean-Paul Sartre, french philosopher
THE PROBLEM
When conflict erupts, the number of people killed is often the only number reported. The number of people wounded, however, creates a much greater burden on the communities that still support them.
For every person killed in conflict 4 are injured.
A rough estimate is that 20% of all wounded (or a number about equal to the number killed) will require reconstructive surgery of some sort. Limbs fractures, disfigured faces, and burned skin are common in conflict. These complex injuries and disabilities of war, which may persist for decades, require longer hospital stays, more operations and support. It places pressures on the injured, their families, and healthcare providers when left untreated.
If agencies report 10,000 persons killed during a conflict it can be calculated that roughly 40,000 have been wounded. Many factors can change the ratio (1:2 in bomb blasts or ship fires or 1:8 with body armour and advanced medical care) but 1:4 is an accepted estimate. In the Syrian Civil War, for instance, estimates on the number killed vary between 387,118 - 593,000 (2011-2020).
Bildcredits: Roughly 1/2 of injuries will be moderate to severe in nature, wounds to the limbs represents 59-79% of all wounds, and the face and neck about 6%. Broken bones 33%, peripheral nerves 11%. Burns vary by type of combat but with aerial bombardment they are present in the majority of casualties with MSF reporting them in 25-50% of all traumatic injuries.
“A typical journey for a wounded civilian involves weeks and months of travel for what is often inadequate care.
If they survive, we are left to treat infections and crippling complications. Violence disrupts medical
care in the moment it is needed most.”
— Dr. Enrique Steiger, Founder & Surgeon
In many areas of conflict, access to complex care is only available if you can pay. Displacement of persons, loss of work, and destruction of community health care facilities magnifies this problem so that many of those who need reconstructive surgery cannot afford it. The WHO identifies 6 parts to a medical system; Service Delivery, Healthcare Workforce, Information, Medical Products, Financing, and Leadership. In conflict settings, the six are typically fragmented and pieces are often absent due to damaged hospitals by bombardment and the migration of experienced personnel to safer communities.
These burdens are magnified after violence ends and deserve to be addressed.
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to empower, strengthen and support frontline health care communities that have been devastated by armed conflict and humanitarian emergencies.
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Four or more operations are often required. Even though healthcare systems are fragmented, patients still require coordination between many health care providers. From surgery, nursing, anaesthesia, rehabilitation, mental health, home care, and to the many other professionals who support restoring form and function.
That need, necessitates Centres for Complex Care (LINK ZU PROGRAMM??) which are capable of organizing the complexities of war wounds and the care required to address them.
FRONTLINE HEALTHCARE
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One of the greatest effects on conflict is the destruction of healthcare systems. Damage of physical facilities, emigration of experienced health care workers, scarcity of supplies, and lack of security all contribute to broken healthcare systems. In Syria 2013, for instance, out of the 91 public hospitals; 49% (45) reported functioning and accessible, 21% (19) not functioning, while 30% (27) hospitals did not report due to security reasons and accessibility challenges. The lingering effects from damaged healthcare systems is tremendous.
Ultimately, care needs to return to the community which means training and supporting those healthcare systems.
MENTORSHIP & TRAINING
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Swisscross supports research initiatives that provide a realistic overview on the topic of health care in armed conflict. In order to achieve this, the Swisscross Foundation works closely with local and international academic institutions and non-governmental bodies.
RESEARCH
PROTECTION
To provide effective solutions for the protection of health care workers and their facilities, Swisscross is determined to fully understand the conditions on the ground. As the environment of war is unpredictable and rapidly changing, it is integral to thoroughly address the topic of protection and safety in order to provide innovative solutions that work.