Preparing for the “unthinkable”: A call for trauma system preparedness in conflict-vulnerable settings

As global armed conflicts proliferate, the need for trauma care of injured civilians in fragile and conflict-affected settings is rising, but current approaches to providing trauma care are inadequate. The humanitarian community is overstretched, and local health systems are often under-resourced and ill-equipped to handle surges in civilian casualties. In this article, we argue for applying a preparedness lens to this challenge, focusing on opportunities for strengthening trauma systems for conflict-vulnerable populations. Specifically, we review current deficiencies in humanitarian trauma care and advocate for the need to (1) identify countries or subnational regions at risk of future armed conflict; (2) assess trauma system capacities and deficiencies in those locations; and (3) foster partnerships and collaborations with local governing bodies and health care providers to improve education, training, and overall trauma system readiness.