The International Council of Nurses (ICN) has issued a Statement of Solidarity that is important for all nurses to read at the start of another unnecessary war. I commend the ICN President and Board for maintaining contact with national nursing associations in the affected region and for clarity about international humanitarian law.

ICN President José Luis Cobos Serrano stated: “We stand in full solidarity with our nursing colleagues and with the civilians whose lives are being devastated. Nurses are not combatants. They are caregivers. They must be able to do their work safely and with dignity.”

I was impressed to see the powerful remarks by ICN Board Representative for the Eastern Mediterranean Region, Dr. Myrna Abi Abdallah Doumit: “Across the Eastern Mediterranean Region, nurses stand as pillars of humanity amid devastation and fear. They do not carry weapons—they carry hope. They heal the wounded, comfort the grieving, and hold together the fragile threads of life when everything else is breaking apart. Yet their courage should never be tested by war.”

As I reflect on these strong words of solidarity, I imagine how sad it must be for nurses and their colleagues to carry on in their daily lives when civilians, health care staff, and facilities are put in harm’s way by decisions being made a world away without any concern for devastating outcomes.

In the midst of this terrible time in the world, we look to wise voices to counter all the disinformation swirling around us. I value more than ever quality journalism and good commentary from experts in Canada and around the world. Thank you to ICN and member associations for your work in such difficult times.

By Nora Whyte – March 11, 2026