Epidemiology and prevention of armed conflict: the activity of the working group on war of the Italian Association of Epidemiology (AIE)

Armed conflicts continue to be a serious threat both to public health and to the environment. Between 1990 and 2001, there were 57 majors armed conflicts in 45 different placesi; the majority were internal conflicts and frequently involved regular armies, but there were also international conflicts such as the Iraq-Kuwait War, the First Gulf War, as well as conflicts between India and Pakistan and between Ethiopia and Eritrea, not to mention NATO intervention in the ex-Yugoslavia. In this given context, and in consideration of the fact that the prevention of armed conflict is a (neglected) part of the obligations of the medical profession, in 2004 a working group on war was established by the Italian Association of Epidemiology (AIE); as of today the main areas of activity have been: - the documentation of the impact on health and the environment of armed conflict (a weekly screening for articles published in peer reviewed medical journals is performed). - the dissemination of scientific articles on the impact of armed conflict, - a communication project aimed at raising awareness among students in secondary schools on the effects of conflicts on the health conditions of the population - periodic group meetings with presentations and discussions on specific issues - a critical examination of surveys and interventions realized by the Italian authorities on issues like depleted uranium and the health of Italian soldiers. - the support of political initiatives to promote peace and prevent war.