The use of even a single nuclear weapon anywhere in the world would overwhelm health infrastructure, making an effective humanitarian response impossible.

Hospitals and pharmacies, fire-fighting equipment, communications and transportation systems would all lie in rubble throughout a zone of complete destruction extending for kilometres.

Those attempting to provide relief to the sick and wounded would be exposed to high levels of radioactivity, risking their own lives.

The International Committee of the Red Cross has repeatedly warned that there is no adequate response capacity in the event of the use of a single nuclear weapon, let alone a full-scale nuclear war, and no such capacity could ever be developed.

Similarly, the World Health Organisation has concluded: “Whatever remained of the medical services in the world could not alleviate the disaster in any significant way.”