Global Network Tackles Last Mile Cancer Care in Conflict Zones – First of Its Kind ICC Initiative

A new global initiative has been launched to address the critical gap in cancer care for patients living in conflict zones, where life-saving treatments exist but cannot be accessed due to war-related disruptions.

On April 24, 2026, The Institute of Cancer and Crisis (ICC) announced the official launch of OncoCorridor, a first-of-its-kind global network designed to overcome the “last mile challenge” in delivering cancer care to patients in war-affected regions. The initiative was unveiled alongside the World Health Assembly in Geneva, with leadership from OncoDaily and ICC.

OncoCorridor aims to connect cancer patients in conflict-affected areas with treatment centers worldwide by creating a coordinated system for patient evacuation and continuity of care. According to ICC, while advances in oncology continue to save lives globally, patients in zones such as Gaza, Sudan, and Ukraine are often left behind not because treatments are unavailable, but because they cannot be reached due to destroyed infrastructure, blocked supply chains, and fractured health systems.

“Medicine has answers. War removes access,” stated Gevorg Tamamyan in a commentary featured by CancerWorld, which was shared by ICC in announcing the initiative. “Every year, advances in oncology save lives. At the same time, patients in conflict zones are left behind not because treatments do not exist, but because they cannot be reached. Here’s not a medical gap. It is a systems failure.”

The initiative builds on ICC’s broader mission to align cancer treatment with humanitarian response. Founded in 2022, the organization has prioritized ethical, evidence-based interventions in war zones through its ICC Manifesto on Improving Cancer Care in Conflict-Impacted Populations, which emphasizes neutrality, humanitarian principles, and long-term sustainability.

ICC’s approach includes strengthening local health systems, training community health workers, and developing supply chain solutions tailored to unstable environments. Among its early efforts, the organization hosted the 1st Global Summit on War and Cancer, bringing together clinicians, policymakers, and international representatives to define priorities for oncology in humanitarian crises.

Recent research reinforces the urgency of such efforts. A study led by Pragnesh Parmar and Gunvanti Rathod from AIIMS Bibinagar, Telangana, India, published in the journal Oncotarget, reviewed evidence from peer-reviewed studies, global health reports, and case examples from Gaza, Sudan, and Ukraine. The authors found that oncology services are frequently excluded from emergency health priorities in humanitarian settings, leading to delayed diagnosis, treatment interruptions, and reduced access to palliative care.

The review further noted that disrupted infrastructure, legal barriers, and fragmented policies disproportionately affect vulnerable populations—including women, children, and the elderly—who often present with advanced disease due to delays in care. The researchers concluded that integrating oncology into humanitarian response frameworks is essential for equitable access and improved outcomes, calling for coordinated global strategies such as cross-border care models, tele-oncology, and policy reform.

OncoCorridor represents a direct response to these systemic gaps. By establishing a coordinated global network, the initiative seeks to ensure that no patient dies from a curable cancer due to war. As stated by ICC and OncoDaily, the knowledge and tools to treat cancer exist—what is missing is the system to deliver them where they are needed most.

The launch of OncoCorridor marks a significant step toward aligning global oncology efforts with humanitarian principles, aiming to transform how cancer care is delivered in some of the world’s most challenging environments.