UN Peacekeeping and Global Health Security

United Nations (UN) peace operations have often been deployed in the midst of health crises, including outbreaks of HIV/aids, Cholera, Ebola and, more recently, the COVID-19 pandemic. Peacekeeping’s initial response to the pandemic was to enter its own lockdown, freezing all rotations of staff and limiting peacekeeper’s movements and non-essential activities. The challenge of then resuming operations in the field were compounded by host state’s poor public health systems, increased tensions and limited medical resources. This paper examines how peacekeeping, as a vital tool for maintaining international peace and security, may contribute to global health security. In doing so, it will focus on the UN’s largest peace operation – MONUSCO – and its response to the Ebola crisis. It will determine whether there are any best practices which can be learnt from the Congo and will question how peacekeeping can adapt to better counter the challenges posed by health crises.