Protecting the Vulnerable: Polio Eradication and Public Health in Conflict and Crisis

One in four people worldwide live in areas affected by conflict, displacement, or natural disasters, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). When coupled with fragile national health systems, these conditions create significant challenges in delivering essential health services to those who need them most. As a result, countries that face these vulnerable settings account for over 70% of epidemic-prone diseases like cholera and measles, 60% of preventable maternal deaths, and more than half of all under-five child mortality. The relationship between crises and disease outbreaks is clear: the collapse of health infrastructure, poor sanitation, and population displacement create ideal conditions for the spread of disease.

There are many urgent needs in these settings – principally, saving the lives of civilians. Polio, a disease that thrives in conditions of instability and weak health infrastructure, exemplifies these challenges and the potential for targeted health interventions to succeed even in fragile settings. In “Protecting the Vulnerable: Polio Eradication and Public Health in Conflict and Crisis” the United Nations Foundation explores how polio vaccination has been made accessible in some of the most challenging environments and how polio programs have also facilitated the delivery of broader, life-saving health services to communities in need. The paper concludes with recommendations to address community needs and save lives, ensuring continued progress and resilience in the broader context of the numerous ongoing humanitarian catastrophes that are in dire need of humanitarian assistance.

Published February 21, 2025