THE LEGACY OF WAR

Prosthetic legs with shoes
Prosthetic legs fitted with shoes belonging to their owners, Angola, 1997
Courtesy Tim Grant

Prosthetic legs fitted with shoes belonging to their owners, Angola, 1997
Courtesy Tim Grant

Wars strike civilian life with devastating results. Battles fought in communities damage health care services, injure bystanders, and interrupt the supply of food, water, and electricity. Even in peacetime, if countries spend most of their resources on military concerns, there is less to spend on health programs that could improve the quality of life and prevent illness.

Physicians and campaigners have used evidence gathered by medical personnel and the testimony of witnesses to highlight the terrible toll of warfare. This work has led to treaties banning the use of landmines and agreements against nuclear weapons testing.