Adverse consequences of conflicts and wars on environment and public health

The relationship between environment and human health is a significant correlation. Every effort for sustainable development and environmental protection is in line with efforts made for improving public health. Accurate modeling methods in environmental studies indicate that there are few environmental disorders without public health consequences. One of the most important agents of environmental pollution & destruction is wars and conflicts. In local and regional wars, all parties involved in conflicts try to damage their enemy in order to put more pressure on them. But consequences of war and conflicts is not restricted to one aspect, time or period but extends even to next generations health, life and environment. In late Oct. 2008 a war occurred in the Middle East, and its news quickly spread around the world. War was started when Hamas did not accept cease-fire, and launched rockets toward Israeli cities on the other hand Israel's army also attack Gaza Strip. In Gaza-Israel 22 days war not only military positions but also civilians and environment were targeted and destroyed. During the war, hundreds of civilians were killed. The environment was also severely destroyed. Because of the specific characteristics of the Gaza Strip region- high-density population and highly urbanized- the recent violent military invasion put additional pressure on Gaza citizens. This status is not only harmful to Gaza citizens & environment but also Israeli people. During the attack infrastructures and buildings (including schools) were completely destroyed. Many of these buildings and infrastructures were connected to sewage networks, and since almost all the region's sewage flow into Mediterranean, spreading untreated sewerage into the Sea is an implication of high volume degradation, also flow of untreated sewage into ground water tables endangers citizens health residing in the region (through consumption of contaminated seafood). On the other hand, using white phosphorous also caused severe human injuries and environmental pollution. This paper is prepared using descriptive - analytical methods, with analyzing internet and library documents to investigate the adverse consequences of the conflict and war which occurred in regional level between Israel and Gaza but had impacts on the whole region's environment and citizens health.