INTRODUCTION:
Protracted conflicts devastate public health institutions, disrupt essential services, and weaken governance and financing structures. Yet rebuilding must begin during conflict—not only after. This oral presentation explores pathways to strengthen public health institutions and sustain health systems amid ongoing violence, occupation, and displacement.

METHODS:
Drawing on conflict-affected contexts such as Gaza, Syria, and Ukraine, this presentation synthesizes lessons from field experiences, public health system recovery frameworks, and humanitarian coordination models. It applies a health system strengthening lens focused on governance, workforce continuity, financing, and community trust, integrating youth and gender perspectives.

RESULTS:
Evidence and practice-based examples show that community-led health models, decentralized governance approaches, adaptive financing mechanisms, and local workforce protection strategies can preserve core public health functions during conflict. Health diplomacy and cross-border partnerships also play a role in maintaining access to supplies, technical support, and service continuity. Key gaps include fragmented authority, politicized aid, and limited accountability for attacks on health infrastructure.

CONCLUSIONS:
Public health institutions must be treated as peacebuilding infrastructure. Strengthening health systems in conflict is not a post-war luxury but a humanitarian and public health imperative. Policies and investments should prioritize institutional resilience, equity, and locally led governance in protracted crisis settings.