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Research has found that older people around the world are being “systematically bankrupt” by humanitarian agencies, unable to find enough food or access medicine.
According to a joint report, interviews with nearly 9,000 elderly people affected by natural disasters, conflicts or socio-economic crises in 11 countries, including Yemen, South Sudan and Venezuela, found a “one-size-fits-all” approach to help that excludes older people. published Thursday by HelpAge International and Age International.
Covid-19 has hit an already fragile situation for older people living in precarious circumstances, with women bearing the brunt of failures, the report found.
“The results of our report show that the humanitarian system is systematically disappointing older people in what amounts to neglect,” said co-author of the report, Age International’s chief of policy Ken Bluestone.
“There is no excuse for their negligence and we should do better. As Covid-19 has shown now, more than ever, it is time to fix it, ”he said.
The results showed that 98% of the over 50s surveyed had a medical condition but 26% could not access a health service; 39% failed to reach aid distribution points; 64% did not have enough food and 77% had no income.
Rather than investigating the situation, agencies have relied on the fundamental assumption that older people live with families, when in fact 20% live alone. Most of the respondents (77%) had not been questioned by any agency about the services provided.
Older women fare much worse than older men, the report said. Women represent 58% of those who live alone, have no income or have no access to food and 56% of those without access to health care.
Although some efforts have been made to support older people, the report states: “Older people continue to suffer immense suffering and their rights and needs remain neglected in the humanitarian response. There has been a clear failure to fully implement the standards, frameworks, policies and guidelines that exist to protect and promote the rights of older people. “
Marck Chikanza, of Zimbabwe’s National Aging Network, said some 540,000 elderly people in the country are in need of humanitarian assistance. “It is much easier to get funding for children and people with disabilities [as] funding for older people is being concentrated in funding for vulnerable people in general, “he said.
He added: “Many older people have lost their children and grandchildren in Cyclone Idai. This also increases their long-term vulnerability as they expected their children and grandchildren to care for them in old age. We are currently looking for ways to tap into funding for orphans as 60% of orphans are cared for by their grandparents, but they don’t receive any support to do so.
In Venezuela, where a protracted crisis has led to severe food, water and fuel shortages, 89 percent of the nation’s 2.1 million over 64s live below the poverty line, said Ingrid Kuhfeldt, manager of HelpAge. International.
“Many humanitarian actors believe that older people benefit from generic humanitarian programs, but are actually excluded, “he said.
Fortunately, the United Nations is now improving in the collection of disaggregated data for older people, but it remains to be done for most NGOs. They do not collect or provide this information yet. This is because the elderly are not seen as a relevant group by many in Venezuela, not even within the communities and families themselves “.
It is estimated that the number of people aged 50 and over living in countries where emergencies are likely to occur will increase from the current 220 million to 586 million in 2050.
“Aid agencies must include older people in consultations: their lives matter and the important contribution that older people can make in their communities during an emergency, improving the lives of all, should not be overlooked,” he said. Bluestone.
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