WONCA Statement of Support - Refugee Crisis

The consequences of the military aggression in Ukraine and the resultant humanitarian crisis have profound implications for health, for healthcare workers in Ukraine and surrounding countries, and for their systems of delivering care. The WONCA Working Party on Mental Health and the WONCA Special Interest Group on Migrant Care, International Health & Travel Medicine, stand in support of our primary care colleagues and express our horror at the unfolding events there.  

Living in conflict zones and forced migration, cause untold suffering related to health, including injury and disability. Loss of care infrastructure, including prevention, chronic disease management, access to medication and rehabilitation services, as well as infection control, can bring rapid deterioration in health. There is such suffering and deprivation in Ukraine, but effects are reaching further into neighbouring countries and the population of the aggressor.

We urge our governments to welcome all those seeking sanctuary from states that are unable to provide protection, to uphold their human rights regardless of their origin, nationality, beliefs, or racial identity, and to ensure their access to timely and meaningful health and social care. It is essential to have rapid international co-operation for cross-border agreements on health and immigration policies to efficiently and effectively direct resources where they are most needed.
 
Preserving life, helping the physically, psychologically, and socially wounded, and looking after vulnerable people who are far from their usual sources of support involves working in difficult circumstances. Our thoughts are with those in this endeavour worldwide. Through our WONCA Working Party and Special Interest Group, we offer our service in supporting them to bear witness to their situations and advocate for their populations; to share learning from such emergency situations; and to promote best practice and policy development.

WONCA Special Interest Group on Migrant Care, International Health & Travel Medicine
WONCA Working Party on Mental Health