142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

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301766
Conflict, Peace, and Public Health in Syria: Addressing the Humanitarian Crisis

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Monday, November 17, 2014 : 11:15 AM - 11:30 AM

Noah Gottschalk , Oxfam America, Washington, DC
Sarah Kalloch , Oxfam America, Boston, MA
As of February 2014, the war in Syria has killed more than 100,000 people and displaced almost 9 million. Oxfam has reached 800,000 people with aid inside Syria, and in Lebanon and Jordan. Oxfam is also advocating for a peaceful, political solution to the conflict. This presentation with give participants up to date situational analysis of public health needs within Syria, at the Za'atari refugee camp in Jordan, and among refugees in Lebanon that Oxfam serves. The focus will be on WASH (water, sanitation, hygiene) needs and psycho-social support. The presentation will outline Oxfam programing to increase access to water and sanitation, hygiene training to prevent the spread of life-threatening diseases, and examine psycho-social supports, food security and other public health challenges for refugee and internally displaced persons.

This presentation will also outline key policy initiatives to bring peace to Syria and outline how public health professionals can use their expertise to advocate for solutions to the humanitarian crisis. Oxfam has been advocating for the US government to actively engage and help realize peace talks for Syria, ensure the meaningful inclusion of women and civil society in this peace process, and increase humanitarian aid. This presentation will outline 2-3 current opportunities for members of the public health community to use their unique expertise and skills to advocate for Syrians and for peace.

Learning Areas:

Advocacy for health and health education
Protection of the public in relation to communicable diseases including prevention or control
Provision of health care to the public
Public health or related public policy

Learning Objectives:
Describe 2-3 key public health humanitarian issues facing Syrians within the country and those displaces in Lebenon and Jordan Discuss 2-3 key advocacy points for peace, both to the US government and to the global community

Keyword(s): War, Advocacy

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Noah Gottschalk is Senior Humanitarian Policy Advisor at Oxfam America. He has over a decade of experience working with children, families, and communities affected by conflict in the Middle East and Africa. Gottschalk leads Oxfam America’s Syria Crisis advocacy, and has spent several months in the region working with refugees, host communities, and Syrian civil society. He holds an MA in International Human Rights Law from the School of Oriental & African Studies.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 3171.0: Public health, peace and conflict in the Middle East