Nurses working in war zones across the world have spoken about the challenges they face on a daily basis, as a vigil was held in their honour.
At the 2025 International Council of Nurses (ICN) Congress held in Helsinki last week, the organisation hosted a panel discussion as part of Nurses for Peace, a campaign that supports nurses working in areas of war.
“[Nurses] continue to come [to their] workplace each day despite what happened during the night”
Kateryna Komar
This session featured video messages from nurses working in Palestine, Israel, Myanmar, Ukraine and other areas of conflict across the world.
In these messages, the nurses on the front lines spoke about the importance of the campaign, as well as the extreme circumstances under which they are working.
One nurse, speaking from Myanmar – which is currently in a civil war – said nurses faced “daily challenges” trying to serve their communities and populations.
“Our situation is very desperate, and I’m worried that much of the world has forgotten us,” she said.
“In spite of this, our message remains strong and we’re working together.
“We’re providing care in difficult situations and educating the next generation of nurses.”
The conference gave a standing ovation following a video message from the Palestinian Nursing and Midwifery Association
The nurse added: “Nursing is a light in the darkest time. We Burmese nurses are very fortunate to have incredible support from our international nursing family members.
“They brought us light. The support from this big family of nurses across the world makes us have faith in our profession and its future is in safe and caring hands.”
She called on nurses at congress to remember the work nurses in Myanmar were doing, and to use their platforms to persuade governments to help foster peace in the country.
“Ask your leaders to do more,” the nurse said.
“We are not politicians, we are not soldiers, we are not fighter pilots. We are nurses, just like all of you.”
Chief nursing officer for Ukraine, Dr Kateryna Komar, then gave an address to congress thanking the ICN and the international health community for its support.
Ukraine has been at war since 2022 when Russian forces invaded the east of the country.
Dr Komar told congress that her office continued to work on developing nursing in Ukraine, despite the war.
ICN Congress attendees shining mobile phone torches in commemoration of colleagues working on the front lines of conflict zones
“Our country is big, and even if you live 100, 1,000, 300 kilometres from [the] front line… each night, you are under bomb attack,” Dr Komar said.
The Ukrainian chief nurse said nurses had shown leadership in their communities throughout the conflict.
“[Nurses] continue to come [to their] workplace each day despite what happened during the night, because they take care of patients,” she added.
“They take care of wounded soldiers. All healthcare systems in our country now are built on nurses.”
The session concluded with a short vigil for nurses who are working under extreme duress in conflict zones.
Congress attendees were encouraged to shine a mobile phone torch or other light in honour of their colleagues.
ICN chief executive Howard Catton, speaking just before the vigil, added: “The tens, hundreds and thousands of our colleagues who right now around the world are working in conflict and disaster zones – I think they are lights.
“They are the people who are bringing hope, health, healing in situations that most of us can barely imagine.
“We just wanted to take a moment for us to show a light to them, our support to them, those people who cannot be with us.”
