Syria crisis

Over two years of war have had a devastating impact on many Syrian families and left more than four million people in need of aid.

To date, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) estimates that there are over 1.6 million registered Syrian refugees, 2.6% of which are over 60. Many more are not registered, are internally displaced within Syria or are unable to flee.

People hit by the conflict have fled to the neighbouring countries of Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and Iraq. Refugee camps are stretched to capacity and many families are living in crude shelters they have built themselves, with host families in cities in overcrowded conditions or in partially finished buildings.

Urban refugees, estimated at about 75% of the refugee population, are relying heavily on the support of their Jordanian neighbours. Many are struggling to survive and are forced to get into debt to pay for rent and food.

What we're doing

Older men and women and people with disabilities are some of the most vulnerable in conflicts. They face specific risks and their needs are very different from those of other groups. HelpAge, in partnership with Handicap International, is assisting older people, people with disabilities and other vulnerable refugees in Jordan and Lebanon.

Our response combines direct cash assistance to urban refugees in Jordan and working with other agencies to ensure older people and people with disabilities are included in the humanitarian response in Jordan and Lebanon.

Older people's needs

We have also spoken to older people affected by the conflict to find out their most pressing needs. Older people are suffering from a severe lack of accessible facilities, information, food, healthcare and other essentials. The most urgent need identified for older urban refugees is cash, which allows them to have access to shelter, food and healthcare.

Our assessments also revealed the severe isolation of many older people in this crisis. The huge psychosocial impact of displacement on Syrian refugees, especially on older people, has been mentioned by several humanitarian actors.

A lack of information often means older people do not know how to register as refugees and therefore cannot access the services they are entitled to.

With funding from Age International and the Disasters Emergencies Committee (DEC) and in partnership with Handicap International, we have so far:

• Assessed and analysed the situation of vulnerable groups, including older people, affected by the Syria crisis in Lebanon and Jordan.
• Trained 60 humanitarian workers in Jordan and 300 humanitarian workers in Lebanon on ageing and disability issues, enabling them to improve identification and response for vulnerable older people and people with disabilities.

What next?

Over the coming months, we will deliver cash transfers to 1,500 vulnerable Syrian refugees and 625 Jordanians living in urban areas in Jordan who are affected by the crisis.

We will continue to gather information on the situation of vulnerable older people and people with disabilities affected by the Syria crisis and advocate for their inclusion in the humanitarian response.