Public health emergencies uncover and exacerbate pre-existing health and socioeconomic inequalities within and across societies. Vulnerable groups are often disproportionately affected by emergencies and, in some settings, the already fragile health systems further compound these impacts.

Recurring emergencies result in further disruption to, for example, human resources, infrastructure, commodities, technologies, equipment and medicines, governance, and services, affecting health systems functionality and impeding post-emergency recovery. Countries or territories with fragile, conflict and violence (FCV) settings such as high numbers of refugees and internally displaced populations, concurrent outbreaks and disasters, and fragile health systems, require complementary health and social protection measures, to ensure that no one is left behind.

There is need for tailored and focused support to build national and subnational capacities for building health systems and services resilience in these settings. Ensuring resilience in areas experiencing complex emergencies is vital for continuity of routine and essential health services while responding to changes in supply and demand of health services during emergencies.

• The humanitarian, development and peace nexus (HDPN) in Africa: the urgent need for a coherent framework for health
• Special collection issue on “Health Systems Recovery in the Context of COVID-19 and Protracted Conflict”
• Health systems recovery in the context of COVID-19 and protracted conflict
• Post-conflict health system recovery efforts in South Sudan