Treatment of sick children during low-intensity conflict

Abstract

The nature of war has evolved in the past generation and in many regions full-scale military confrontations with definable combat zones and easily identifiable combatants have been replaced by amorphous low-intensity conflicts in which battle-lines are often not clearly delineated. Nonmilitary personnel on both sides are involved and noncombatants are frequent casualties. Furthermore the drastic alterations to everyday life that take place during a full-scale war do not occur and civilian routines although often disturbed are maintained. The current intifada involving Israelis and Palestinians is frequently characterised as a low-intensity conflict in which there are explosive periods of violence followed by quiet intervals. During these lulls continuing verbal violence and political activities affect the relations of the two nations. The most devastating effect of the intifada has been a further deterioration in the relations between Arabs and Jews. Hatred and hostility have replaced the tenuous and tentative feelings of amity founded on the Oslo peace agreements; yet the two populations live entwined in the same geographical area. The antagonism between Israelis and Palestinians creates major challenges for health-care workers whose mission is to provide impartial and empathetic care to all. (excerpt)