THE ROLE OF HUMANITARIAN HEALTH DIPLOMACY IN STRENGTHENING PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONSE IN CONFLICT ZONES: A CASE STUDY OF SAUDI ARABIA’S ENGAGEMENT THROUGH KSRELIEF

Abstract

Armed conflicts have decimated public health systems in many regions, prompting the emergence of Humanitarian Health Diplomacy (HHD) as a means to negotiate health access and assistance amid violence. This study examines how HHD can strengthen public health responses in conflict zones, focusing on Saudi Arabia’s engagement through the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSRelief). Using a qualitative, descriptive approach, we analyze case studies from Yemen, Syria, and Sudan, drawing on KSRelief reports, World Health Organization (WHO), International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and United Nations (UN) sources. We define health diplomacy and its humanitarian variant, review global frameworks, and identify gaps regarding Middle Eastern actors. Our findings illustrate that Saudi Arabia’s HHD efforts – including negotiating vaccination campaigns during ceasefires, opening humanitarian corridors, and protecting healthcare workers – have facilitated life-saving interventions. KSRelief’s support for measles immunizations in Yemen, field hospitals and cross-border aid in Syria, and health system stabilization in Sudan demonstrate both the potential and limitations of HHD. We discuss strengths and weaknesses of HHD as a tool for humanitarian access, compare Saudi initiatives with Western approaches, and assess Saudi Arabia’s unique contributions. Policy recommendations are offered on institutionalizing HHD within KSRelief and integrating HHD into global response strategies, in alignment with Sustainable Development Goals 3 and 17. This research contributes new insights on an under-studied actor in health diplomacy and underscores the importance of neutral, health-focused dialogue in conflict settings.