War in Lebanon: the hidden health crisis beyond the frontlines

Discussions of armed conflict often focus on its most visible consequences: mass casualties, overwhelmed hospitals, and urgent surgical needs.Yet for many civilians the health effects of war unfold less dramatically.In the Middle East, the current escalation is not an isolated catastrophe but another acute phase in a prolonged conflict of variable intensity.Across the region, the escalation in violence has brought fear to the lives of millions of people, including in Lebanon, Iran, and the Gulf countries.Bombing continues across cities and villages, often hitting densely populated areas, and casualties are mounting.In this context, the cumulative effect on people living with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and on population mental health remains insufficiently recognised and inadequately addressed.Non-communicable diseases require continuity of care, reliable medication supplies, and regular follow-up with healthcare providers.Conflict readily dismantles these conditions.Clinics close or are damaged, supply chains fracture, and patients and healthcare workers are repeatedly displaced.