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Climate extremes are unprecedented straining healthcare systems and intensifying pre-existing issues. This commentary addresses lack of (1) knowledge on unintended health consequences of adaptation actions, (2) interdisciplinary research frameworks, and (3) forward-looking, context-based scenarios. Collaboration across natural, medical, and social sciences can facilitate shifts toward more sustainable and equitable healthcare.

Communal violence is a major source of insecurity within and across borders, sparking significant displacement flows and disturbing livelihoods. While conflict literature has shed light onto its causes, the existing research has paid little systematic attention to the spatial dynamics of communal violence. We distinguish between spillover of violence and spillover of predictors. Spillover of violence is defined as communal violence occurring as a direct response to communal violence in a nearby location. Spillover of predictors describes instances of communal violence that occur due to nearby conflict-inducing factors. With regard to the former, we argue that violence in one area breeds violence in the neighboring areas. The latter we study as communal violence resulting through proximity to violence-inducing predictors such as drought. Applying spatial models, we test these arguments with data on incidences of communal violence for Sub-Saharan Africa (1990–2014). Our results demonstrate that communal violence explains nearby communal violence through different spillover processes. We also find evidence for an increase in violence due to exposure from neighborhood droughts as well as other conflict-inducing factors.