Older people are discriminated against during humanitarian emergencies, says this year’s annual World Disasters Report: Tackling discrimination in disasters, launched today (December 13) by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

Large numbers of older people affected by disasters

HelpAge International was asked to contribute to the chapter on older people which says discrimination by governments, humanitarian organisations and communities prevents them from realising their rights to disaster response and resources for recovery.

"Some cars came by and just threw the packets. The fastest get the food, the strong one wins. The elderly and the injured don't get anything. We feel like dogs," said survivor Perumal, 75, Tamil Nadu, India of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami relief effort.

The report highlights the fact that the number of older people affected by disasters or displaced by crises is often significantly higher than their proportion in the general population. For example, the 2003 heatwave in France claimed 15,000 lives, 70 per cent of whom were over 75 years of age.

Prejudices and false assumptions

At the root of discrimination against older people lie a range of prejudices and false assumptions. Such perceptions and attitudes, whether grounded in reality or not, can create a stigma around older people that they are weak, useless or worthless. Read more about myths

The reports calls for a greater awareness of the problems older people face in an emergency situation. These are:

• Lack of mobility Across a wide range of emergencies and crises, age-related mobility problems affect the ability of older people to flee from crises and access humanitarian services.
• Chronic poor health The immediate health issues during crises are characterised and compounded by the effects of pre-existing chronic ailments, discrimination at the hands of health staff and lack of accessible, appropriate response services.
  
• Nutritional needs In a rapid survey carried out in Darfur in 2006, HelpAge International researchers found nearly 40 per cent of older people were at risk of malnutrition. Yet, apart from isolated surveys, little is known about rates of malnutrition for older people globally.
  
• Isolation A psychosocial needs assessment conducted in September 2006 found that mental health concerns were more prevalent among older Pakistani survivors of the 2005 earthquake. These included increased insolation, feelings of being a burden, intergenerational conflict, and the reality of major losses that will not be restored in their lifetimes.

Recommendations

The chapter on older people makes the following recommendations and calls on humanitarian organisations and governments to take the following steps:

• Protect older people through relevant legislation
  
• Mainstream older people’s concerns into policies and practice
  
• Provide more resources
  
• Improve data and delivery by increasing older people’s participation
  

The World Disasters Report concludes that older people throughout the world are poorly served in terms of disaster preparedness and response. Far more needs to be done to tackle the false assumptions and discrimination that blight their chances of survival and recovery.

Older people need to be seen, heard and understood

Richard Blewitt, Chief Executive Officer Of HelpAge International says: “Older people have consistently asked to be seen, heard and understood. They need equal access to essential services. They want their potential and contributions to be valued and supported.

"When this doesn’t happen, older vulnerable people feel worthless and powerless. The full participation of older men and women in disaster management – as in development – is both an operational imperative and a matter of basic human rights.”