Reimagining pandemic response in fragile and conflict affected settings starts with peace

Pandemic preparedness and response often overlook the realities of fragile and conflict-affected settings. Violence dismantles health systems, displaces populations, and at times erodes trust. This paper highlights the important link between peace and effective pandemic control, arguing that global health security cannot be achieved without integrating a peacebuilding lens into health programming. We highlight the structural, immediate, and long-term determinants through which conflict fuels disease emergence, transmission, notification, and care. Restricted mobility and breakdowns in social cohesion further render disease response strategies difficult from notification, case management, public health control measures, and coordinated responses. Current global agreements, such as the pandemic accord, risk limited impact in unstable contexts unless operationalized alongside locally driven peace initiatives. In an increasingly fragile and conflict-affected world, pandemic preparedness and response must be reimagined through an inclusive and proactive peacebuilding lens. Carefully rethinking the role of communities in the pandemic preparedness and response frameworks, and fostering collaboration across health, humanitarian, and peace actors remain critical. We propose practical approaches to mainstream peace into pandemic response, including training community and frontline health workers in conflict mediation, leveraging service delivery models of care as neutral spaces, and engaging cultural and religious leaders to foster trust and social cohesion. By deliberately addressing both health and security dynamics, pandemic preparedness and response can become more resilient, equitable, and effective, particularly in the settings most vulnerable to future outbreaks. Without peace, efforts to control or end pandemics will remain incomplete.