Q.11. Scientific session: Living, Researching and Providing Care in Crisis: Voices and Evidence from the Field
Abstract
How can research be conducted and disseminated in contexts of extreme violence, colonial wars, and multiple intersecting crises? While all forms of crisis produce violence for those affected, in many Global South settings such extreme violence is persistent and structurally embedded. Crises include armed conflicts, humanitarian emergencies, economic and financial shocks, political instability and environmental-related disasters. Adverse outcomes such as civilian casualties, forced displacement and destruction of health services, often occur concurrently. While contextually grounded research is essential for generating evidence to address the needs of crisis affected populations, the perspectives of researchers and healthcare providers in times of crisis are rarely documented. This workshop showcases four studies conducted amid overlapping crises and Israeli war in Lebanon, a low-income country in the East Mediterranean, involving scholars, healthcare providers and mutual aid workers. The presentations highlight their perspectives of conducting research and practice within the crises they inhabit, systemic deficiencies and limited preparedness, while exploring how these actors navigate uncertainty, adapt, and remain committed to their work. The studies also reveal human vulnerabilities and heightened moral duty towards fellow human beings. The workshop opens with a brief overview of the social and healthcare context of Lebanon and the region before presenting findings from in-depth interviews with academic researchers from diverse disciplinary backgrounds, examining their research journeys during crises, amid moral distress, safety concerns and institutional constraints. The second presentation shares findings from in-depth interviews with government staff, non-governmental and humanitarian actors, primary healthcare center directors and healthcare providers, alongside focus groups with diverse community members across the country. These indicate that experiences of war can promote a strong sense of civic responsibility and moral commitment reflected in enhanced respectful and person-centered care for displaced and other populations in need. The third presentation highlights the experiences of palliative care providers working within fragile and disrupted systems during crisis, pointing to their notable endurance and adaptive capacity as they navigate limited institutional preparedness through contextual improvisation and reliance on moral support networks. The fourth presentation examines the experience of researching mutual aid and solidarity initiatives among displaced populations during the 2024 Israeli war on Lebanon, while reflecting on the researcher’s positionality and ethical decision to anonymize all groups involved for security and data protection concerns, despite pressures for disclosure. The presentation also critiques power dynamics in the mutual aid sector, highlighting how dominant organizations can overshadow grassroots efforts.
Key messages: • Research in crisis reveals system gaps and how actors adapt to sustain their work.
• Crises shape researchers’ perspectives, influencing how evidence is produced, interpreted and used.
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BibTeX
@article{lebanon2026scientific,
title = {{Q.11. Scientific session: Living, Researching and Providing Care in Crisis: Voices and Evidence from the Field}},
author = {Health Promotion and Community Health Department American University of Beirut (Lebanon) and Jihad Makhoul},
journal = {The European Journal of Public Health},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.650},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.650},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Q.11. Scientific session: Living, Researching and Providing Care in Crisis: Voices and Evidence from the Field
AU - Health Promotion and Community Health Department American University of Beirut (Lebanon)
AU - Jihad Makhoul
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - The European Journal of Public Health
DO - 10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.650
UR - https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.650
AB - How can research be conducted and disseminated in contexts of extreme violence, colonial wars, and multiple intersecting crises? While all forms of crisis produce violence for those affected, in many Global South settings such extreme violence is persistent and structurally embedded. Crises include armed conflicts, humanitarian emergencies, economic and financial shocks, political instability and environmental-related disasters. Adverse outcomes such as civilian casualties, forced displacement and destruction of health services, often occur concurrently. While contextually grounded research is essential for generating evidence to address the needs of crisis affected populations, the perspectives of researchers and healthcare providers in times of crisis are rarely documented. This workshop showcases four studies conducted amid overlapping crises and Israeli war in Lebanon, a low-income country in the East Mediterranean, involving scholars, healthcare providers and mutual aid workers. The presentations highlight their perspectives of conducting research and practice within the crises they inhabit, systemic deficiencies and limited preparedness, while exploring how these actors navigate uncertainty, adapt, and remain committed to their work. The studies also reveal human vulnerabilities and heightened moral duty towards fellow human beings. The workshop opens with a brief overview of the social and healthcare context of Lebanon and the region before presenting findings from in-depth interviews with academic researchers from diverse disciplinary backgrounds, examining their research journeys during crises, amid moral distress, safety concerns and institutional constraints. The second presentation shares findings from in-depth interviews with government staff, non-governmental and humanitarian actors, primary healthcare center directors and healthcare providers, alongside focus groups with diverse community members across the country. These indicate that experiences of war can promote a strong sense of civic responsibility and moral commitment reflected in enhanced respectful and person-centered care for displaced and other populations in need. The third presentation highlights the experiences of palliative care providers working within fragile and disrupted systems during crisis, pointing to their notable endurance and adaptive capacity as they navigate limited institutional preparedness through contextual improvisation and reliance on moral support networks. The fourth presentation examines the experience of researching mutual aid and solidarity initiatives among displaced populations during the 2024 Israeli war on Lebanon, while reflecting on the researcher’s positionality and ethical decision to anonymize all groups involved for security and data protection concerns, despite pressures for disclosure. The presentation also critiques power dynamics in the mutual aid sector, highlighting how dominant organizations can overshadow grassroots efforts. Key messages: • Research in crisis reveals system gaps and how actors adapt to sustain their work. • Crises shape researchers’ perspectives, influencing how evidence is produced, interpreted and used.
SN - 1101-1262
SN - 1464-360X
ER -