Challenge of the world order and its implications for health personnel

These efforts need more fundamental support. The unfolding of a "new world order" can stimulate fresh thinking on a variety of important issues. The Global Burden of Disease Study [1] predicts war will reach the list of 10 most frequent causes of loss of disability-adjusted lifeyears by the year 2020. But, despite the growing number of armed conflicts throughout the world, not enough attention has been paid to the local patterns of distress and the long-term health impact and psychosocial consequences of political violence against individuals or communities [2]. It has to be emphasized that 90% of all deaths related to recent wars were among civilians [3]. Further, war has also indirect consequences including damage to the social fabric and infrastructure of the society, displacement of people, damage to the environment and fostering of a culture of violence [3]. In complex emergencies, public health activities have been shown to promote peace, prevent violence and reconcile enemies [4].