IN-PERSON: Health in a World of Crises and Impunity

Health in a World of Crises and Impunity

Report of the Johns Hopkins Center for Humanitarian Health–Lancet Commission on Health, Conflict, and Forced Displacement

Date: Tuesday, June 2, 2026

Time: 11:00am–1:00pm, followed by a reception (1–2pm)

Location: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Center, 555 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001

Format: Livestreamed

At a time of escalating conflicts, growing displacement, shrinking resources, and increasing impunity, the report calls for a new paradigm for the humanitarian sector. It sets out bold and practical recommendations to rethink how humanitarian health responses are designed, governed, and delivered in some of the world’s most challenging settings.

The Commission brings together global leaders and experts committed to confronting and reshaping the humanitarian system. Its work seeks to challenge existing power structures in humanitarian health, influence global policy and practice, and amplify the voices of people affected by conflict and displacement.

This launch event will provide an opportunity to engage directly with Commission members and explore the report’s key findings and recommendations. Participants will also have the chance to discuss the implications for humanitarian policy, practice, and partnerships in the years ahead.

Programme

11:00–11:05 Welcome

Dr. Richard Horton and Dr. Ana Mateus, The Lancet (online)

11:05–11:25 Presentation of the Commission’s report by Prof. Paul Spiegel, Johns Hopkins Center for Humanitarian Health

11:25–11:35 Keynote speech by Mr. David Miliband, President and CEO, International Rescue Committee (IRC)

11:35–12:15 Panel 1: Commissioners and Next Generation Scholars

Chaired by Prof. Daniel  Maxwell, Professor Emeritus, Tufts University

   Dr. Orit Abrahim, General Surgery Resident at Massachusetts General Hospital and a Research Fellow at Harvard Medical School

   Mr. Moumini Niaoné, Medical doctor and founding Executive Director of Pull for Progress

   Dr. Chiara Altare, Associate Research Professor in the Department of International Health at the Bloomberg School of Public Health

   Dr. Joanne Liu, Canadian practicing paediatric emergency physician at University of Montreal and professor at McGill University’s School of Population & Global Health 

12:15–13:00 Panel 2: Expert perspectives — chaired by Prof. Paul Spiegel

   Mr. Jeremy Konyndyk, President, Refugees International

   Dr. Valerie Bemo, Deputy Director, Emergency Response, Gates Foundation

   Ms. Hanin Ahmed, Sudanese Activist & Emergency Response Room Leader, Sudan Emergency Response Rooms (ERRs)

   Ms. Hibak Kalfan, Executive Director of the Network for Empowered Aid Response (NEAR)

   Ms. Ella Watson-Stryker, Humanitarian Affairs Officer, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)

   Dr. Ciro Ugarte, Director, Health Emergencies, Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)

13:00–14:00 Reception

Please complete the registration form below to confirm your participation. Further details will be shared with registered participants ahead of the event.

For more information about the Commission, visit https://healthconflictcommission.org/

Hosted by the Johns Hopkins Center for Humanitarian Health

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