It is important to recognise the hidden costs that armed conflicts inflict upon the environment and the communities living in the affected areas. While the loss of human lives and destruction of infrastructures are painfully evident, the environmental devastation result in long-term damage to ecosystems, health, and livelihoods too, that often go unacknowledged.

When conflicts erupt, they do not just affect combatants and civilians directly involved; they also leave scars on the environment that indirectly affect future generations. The destruction of natural resources, pollution of water supplies, deforestation, soil erosion, and biodiversity losses are some of the irreversible impacts of war on the environment. Environmental exploitation during conflict frequently manifests in the form of scorched-earth tactics, uncontrolled waste disposal, and unrestricted mining. These activities not only damage the local ecosystem but also have a significant influence on the communities that rely on these resources for survival.

International law offers some protection to the environment during armed conflicts. Additional Protocol I of the Geneva Conventions explicitly prohibits methods of warfare that may cause "widespread, long-term, and severe" damage to the environment. Additionally, the United Nations Environment Programme has highlighted the need for accountability for environmental destruction during wartime. Despite these provisions, enforcement remains challenging, and many conflicts continue to devastate ecosystems with impunity. Efforts by the International Law Commission to draft principles on protecting the environment in relation to armed conflicts are a hopeful step. However, since these are without binding authority, such initiatives remain largely symbolic.

 One of the most pressing examples of environmental exploitation in conflict zones is the ongoing situation in Palestine. Decades of conflict have left Palestine's environment in a state of ruin, impacting everything from agricultural lands to access to clean water. The Israeli-Palestinian war has led to restrictions on Palestinian access to essential water resources, leaving many communities with grossly limited or contaminated water supplies. The destruction of olive groves and agricultural lands not only disrupts the market economy but also erodes the land, making it difficult for communities to cultivate crops or sustain livestock.

Moreover, pollutants from destroyed infrastructure, discarded ammunition, and military equipment have contaminated Palestinian soil and water sources. According to the UNEP, such environmental degradation disproportionately affects Palestinians, who rely heavily on agriculture and limited natural resources. This ongoing environmental impact represents a form of structural violence, as it continues to undermine the livelihoods and health of Palestinian civilians, especially those in Gaza, where environmental destruction has exacerbated living conditions to critical levels.

Other conflicting regions suffer similarly. In Iraq, years of conflict have turned the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, once lifelines for agriculture and drinking water, into polluted channels.  In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, conflict-driven mineral extraction has resulted in severe deforestation and habitat loss, threatening biodiversity and the health of communities. Syria's once-fertile lands are now barren, with soils and water sources contaminated by extensive bombings, pushing countless farmers into poverty.

In each of these cases, communities are left to bear the environmental and human costs of war long after the conflicts end. These impacts, often unseen and unmeasured, deprive future generations of a sustainable environment, healthy food sources, and safe water supplies. To address these issues, there must be an international commitment to uphold and strengthen legal protections for the environment during armed conflict. Expanding the scope of the Geneva Conventions and ensuring accountability for environmental harm can offer some relief. An international mechanism for investigating and prosecuting environmental war crimes could act as a deterrent too.

Moreover, rebuilding efforts should prioritise environmental rehabilitation as a critical aspect of post-conflict recovery. The restoration of ecosystems, cleaning of polluted water sources, and reforestation efforts can help communities regain their self-sufficiency and rebuild livelihoods disrupted by conflict.

The writer is Lecturer, Department of Law, National University, Gazipur.