Cancer in conflict: The impact of the war in Ukraine on Moldova
Horia Vulpe, Artiom Mînzătean, Stefania Magidson, Irena Tocino, Rodica Mindruta-Stratan, Lars Johan Lönnback, Ursula Wagner, Violina Nazaria, Eugenia Ciubotaru, Nicoleta Minzatean, Ciobanu Veronica, Sergiu Brenister, Ludmila Circiumari, Cristian Teglas, Richard Sullivan, Ruslan Baltaga
Abstract
Europe has not experienced a refugee crisis of this magnitude since the Second World War. The Republic of Moldova, a small European nation bordering western Ukraine, has found itself increasingly in the crosshairs of Russia’s war in Ukraine. Moldova is not a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) nor the European Union (EU), but remains an attractive destination for those displaced by the conflict due to its proximity to Ukraine and Russian-speaking communities. Relative to its population, Moldova has the highest number of refugees per capita in Europe (4.2%) [ 1 United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Operational Data Portal - Ukraine Refugee Situation. Published online February, 2023. Available from: 〈https://data.unhcr.org/en/situations/ukraine〉. [Accessed 20 February 2023]. Google Scholar , 2 United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Bi-annual Fact Sheet - Moldova. Published online September 2022. Available from: 〈https://www.unhcr.org/en-us/publications/operations/63592c302d9/bi-annual-fact-sheet-2022–09-moldova.html?query=refugee%20per%20capita〉. [Accessed 20 March 2023]. Google Scholar ]. This rapid influx of refugees has placed significant pressure on the country’s health systems in all areas of care, including for non-communicable diseases such as cancer. Similar challenges are faced by neighbouring countries, including Poland [ 3 Didkowska J.A. Barańska K. Wojciechowska U. Tyczyński J.E. War in Ukraine creates challenges for the cancer care system in Poland. Lancet Oncol. 2022; 23: 1239-1240 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (7) Google Scholar , 4 Puskulluoglu M. Grela-Wojewoda A. Szczubiałka G. et al. Cancer care for Ukrainian refugees during the first 6 weeks of 2022 Russian invasion – an experience of a Cancer Reference Centreer in Poland. Eur J Cancer. 2022; 178: 234-242 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (4) Google Scholar , 5 Wyrwicz L. Walewski J. Rutkowski P. Challenges of oncological care in Poland hosting Ukrainian refugees of war. Eur J Cancer. 2022; 178: 243-244 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (2) Google Scholar ], where it is estimated that 7827 additional cancer cases will be identified from elderly refugees per year [ [6] Piotrowicz K. Semeniv S. Kupis R. et al. Disease burden in older Ukrainian refugees of war: a synthetic reanalysis of public records data. Lancet Healthy Longev. 2022; 3: e667-e673 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (8) Google Scholar ].