Whether it’s the Ebola outbreak in West Africa or cholera in Haiti, health emergencies present particular challenges for United Nations peace operations. UN peacekeepers can contribute to a host population’s health by facilitating access for humanitarian aid agencies or delivering health assistance directly. But they can also present a health threat to the host population, and face health risks in challenging environments themselves.

The new IPI report “Healing or Harming?” explores the complex relationship between UN peacekeeping and health. In terms of challenges, it finds a need for greater attention to medical checks and health care provision for peacekeepers both before and during deployment. In terms of opportunities, the authors show that peacekeepers can play a vital role in delivering health care in emergency settings, as well as facilitating and assisting humanitarian access.

However, the authors shed light on the dilemmas raised by peacekeepers delivering health assistance, which is sometimes used to “win hearts and minds” and often is not in line with UN mandates or coordinated with humanitarian agencies. The authors argue that despite situations in which peacekeepers should play a direct role in delivering health assistance, the ultimate aim should be to support—not supersede—the work of humanitarian actors.

The authors’ recommendations include the following: