Community Spotlight: World Humanitarian Day
On this year’s World Humanitarian Day, the Center for Global Health Equity stands with all people affected by humanitarian disasters around the world, as well as the workers who risk their lives to provide relief. In recognition that humanitarian work takes different forms, we would like to spotlight three CGHE programs dedicated to alleviating suffering and improving equitable access to care in humanitarian settings.
Addressing Compounding Health Crises Driven by Forced Migration
The number of forcibly displaced people around the world remains at historic highs, as millions flee violence and conflict to seek protection. The health consequences of displacement are often compounded by history; Indigenous communities and other populations affected by historical displacement also experience health disparities driven by structural barriers and cumulative, intergenerational trauma.
As the newest program at the Center for Global Health Equity, the Collaborative on Forced Migration and Health aims to address the health inequities faced by refugees, Indigenous communities, and forcibly displaced populations. Led by Dr. Giovanna Deluca, MD and Dr. Therese Zink, MD, MPH, the Collaborative partners with Rhode Island-based refugee clinics, tribal and Indigenous-led organizations, and international health initiatives to improve patient-centered clinical care and capacity-building efforts both locally and globally. The program seeks to ensure that refugees, Indigenous populations, and forcibly displaced people can access high quality care both during and in the aftermath of severe humanitarian emergencies.
Co-Director, Dr. Deluca was honored with the 2026 Humanitarian Service Award from the Global Emergency Medicine Academy (GEMA).
Bridging the Actors Behind Humanitarian Response
As humanitarian emergencies grow in both scale and number, the diverse institutional actors responding to them must coordinate effectively to meet the health care needs of displaced and refugee populations. Humanitarian organizations and the military increasingly operate in the same environments during disasters, making clear communication, ranging from co-existence to cooperation, essential to avoiding competition, misunderstandings, and gaps in response.
The Program in Civil-Military Humanitarian Coordination at CGHE works to expand on the current evidence base for information sharing and support the development of new strategies. The Program brings together humanitarian organizations, academics, military personnel, and policymakers through research collaborations, workshops and thematic working groups, and educational programs. These efforts aim to cultivate discussion and enhance the collective response capacity during humanitarian crises.
The Summary report from this year's research symposium and workshop, attended by approximately 90 stakeholders representing interests from US Armed Forces and allied militaries, humanitarian Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), International Governmental Organizations (IGOs), UN agencies, and academia to explore current and future challenges in humanitarian response can be found below.
Building Epidemic Prevention and Resilience in Ukraine
The ongoing war in Ukraine has severely disrupted the care continuum for HIV and comorbidities, such as tuberculosis (TB) and mental health conditions. Even prior to the war, Ukraine had a high HIV and TB disease burden; mass displacement and attacks on health facilities and medical and research personnel now worsen this health crisis by interrupting treatment pathways and increasing the spread of disease in the region.
The Brown University Center for Global Health Equity partners with Ukrainian health care providers, researchers, and local organizations to strengthen capacity in HIV, TB, and mental health care. The collaboration is home to the NEZLAMNI Research Training Program, a new D43 Training Grant which provides mentorship to exceptional Ukrainian trainees with research interests in HIV, TB, substance use disorders, and mental health in humanitarian settings. The program aims to drive multidisciplinary collaboration and innovations that specifically address the health needs of displaced individuals in Ukraine and other regions experiencing conflict.
Together, these three initiatives highlight the diverse dimensions of humanitarian health, from repairing health systems disrupted by conflict and displacement to strengthening coordination between humanitarian actors. On this World Humanitarian Day, these efforts serve as a reminder of the importance of advocating for the safety of humanitarian personnel, and building the systems and capacity to help communities thrive long after the immediate crisis has passed.