4.5 "brave, profoundly tragic, unfathomable" stars.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and Columbia University Press. I am providing an honest review. This was released September 2021.

My admiration and heart go out to the doctors, nurses, health care professionals and the many millions of civilians that are caught up in war, civil war or government oppressions. They march on despite ongoing atrocities to themselves and their loved ones. Greed, sadism and cruelty abound and Western governments continue to facilitate these dynamics while their own people continue to be relatively safe. What have we done to deserve this peace...nothing really...the luck of the draw....

Inefficiency of the United Nations...western nations not only killing civilians with drones and bombings but selling arms in the billions....

This was one of the most difficult and painful reading experiences that I ever had. I had panic attacks, nightmares and a feeling of despair. I had to continue reading and think of small ways that I can help in this horrible global carnage. I understood that my own paltry experience was not one thousandth of what millions go through each and every. Humbling and thankful and a reminder that we all deserve safety, nutrition, a home, and basic medical care.

This author collated worldwide information of the past twenty five years and at the end provided solid recommendations to protect health care workers and civilians during times of war and conflict.

The author used philosophical underpinnings and the Geneva Conventions on understanding that health care needs to be safe for all. He then looks at many countries: El Salvador, Chechnya, Afghanistan, Burma, Turkey, Yugoslavia.

The hardest for me to read about were Syria and Yemen. I was aghast and terrified. I fell asleep while reading constantly as my nervous system could not take in all the atrocitties I was reading about.

Israel and Palestine, Congo...on and on and on....

Please think of ways to support health care in war zones ...please....