INTRODUCTION:
In conflict zones, data collection becomes dangerous, fragmented, and politicized—yet it remains vital for advocacy, accountability, and informed humanitarian response. Without credible and timely data, health needs go unmet and human rights abuses remain undocumented.

METHODS:
This session brings together researchers, frontline responders, and displaced youth from Gaza, Tigray, and Myanmar to explore barriers and opportunities in health data collection during war. It highlights alternative methodologies including mobile surveillance, crowdsourced reporting, and diaspora-led data analysis. The panel will also incorporate perspectives from human rights organizations, digital security experts, and health professionals operating in restricted environments.

RESULTS:
The session will share case examples of how youth-led and community-driven initiatives have filled critical data gaps through innovative tools and partnerships. Participants will examine real-world practices for secure data gathering, ethical consent in volatile settings, and evidence use in advocacy for humanitarian access. Common dilemmas—such as balancing visibility with protection and safeguarding digital privacy—will be unpacked through interactive dialogue.

CONCLUSIONS:
Protecting health data in war zones is both a scientific and political act. It is essential to build systems that center ethics, community ownership, and security. This session will generate recommendations for humanitarian actors, academic institutions, and global health donors on how to strengthen surveillance infrastructure and ensure research justice during emergencies.