Care during conflicts: Emergency support systems in Oceania.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Conflict Studies
• Disaster Management

Background:

• Protest and conflict events pose significant challenges to healthcare systems globally.
• Understanding regional variations in conflict is crucial for effective public health interventions.
• The 2021-2022 period in Oceania presented unique socio-political dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze protest and conflict events in Oceania between 2021 and 2022.
• To provide data supporting healthcare systems in understanding the scope of these events.
• To identify specific challenges faced by different nations within Oceania.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED) database.
• Examined event types, including protests, battles, violence against civilians, and riots.
• Analyzed fatality data associated with recorded events.

Main Results:

• Recorded 2743 distinct events, with protests constituting the majority (83.3%).
• Fatalities primarily resulted from battles, violence against civilians, and riots.
• Australia recorded the highest number of events (56.1%), while Papua New Guinea exhibited the highest fatality rate (1.03 per event).

Conclusions:

• Australia's events were largely pandemic-related protests; Papua New Guinea experienced significant tribal violence.
• Both scenarios present distinct challenges for healthcare system preparedness and response.
• A comprehensive strategy including disaster preparedness, regional cooperation, and addressing root causes is essential for strengthening Oceania's healthcare systems.