HelpAge International was at the first-ever World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul from 23-24 May 2016.
We highlighted the experiences of older people in humanitarian action and called for a reformed
humanitarian system that is inclusive of people of all ages.
Read on to find out more or skip to:
Older voices | Inclusion Charter | Humanitarian financing | Blogs | Older people in emergencies | #ReShapeAid | Useful links
Older voices in humanitarian crises: Calling for change
Warda is one of 300 older refugees from Syria, Ukraine and South Sudan we interviewed about their needs and experiences of conflict and emergencies. They told us about the challenges they face in accessing humanitarian assistance, and their needs for better healthcare and support to address isolation and anxiety.
The collective experience of the older people we interviewed contributes to a growing body of evidence which shows that now is the time to start listening and take action to address the neglect of older people in emergencies.
The UN Secretary General has set ambitious goals for the World Humanitarian Summit, calling for “change that inspires global leaders, international organisations and other stakeholders to assume their responsibilities with a greater sense of urgency and determination to deliver better for those who need it the most”.
We must make sure that we don’t miss the opportunity to ensure older people’s needs are recognised and that they receive the assistance to which they are entitled.
Our CEO Toby Porter urged participants at the Summit to listen to older people’s voices, and lay the foundation for a system that puts people of all ages at the centre of humanitarian response. Read his blog in the Huffington Post UK.
Inclusion Charter: Five steps to impartial humanitarian response
Together with other leading humanitarian agencies we have launched the Inclusion Charter, setting out five steps to achieve impartial humanitarian response for the most vulnerable.
If you are a humanitarian actor please commit to implementing the Inclusion Charter in your work.
HelpAge's Director of Programmes, Justin Derbyshire, explains why he thinks the World Humanitarian Summit is an opportunity to pave the way for inclusive humanitarian responses.
Watch David Nabarro's message for the World Humanitarian Summit
UN Special Adviser on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development David Nabarro had a special message calling on all humanitarians to #LeaveNoOneBehind.
End the neglect: a study of humanitarian financing for older people
Our annual study of humanitarian financing of older people illustrates the failure of the current system to allocate adequate resourcing to address older people’s needs. It offers a sobering analysis of the extent to which older people are being left behind in emergencies.
Download our new report, End the neglect: a study of humanitarian financing for older people. (2.6mb)
Blogs
HelpAge and Age International staff have been writing their reflections on the World Humanitarian Summit:
- Helping Older People When Disaster Strikes by Marcus Skinner, HelpAge Humanitarian Policy Adviser. Published by Human Rights Watch.
- World Humanitarian Summit: An opportunity to pave the way for inclusive humanitarian responses by Justin Derbyshire, HelpAge Director of Programmes.
- Why Is the World Humanitarian Summit Important for Older People? by Chris Roles, Age International Managing Director. Published by Huffington Post UK.
Older people are disproportionally affected in disasters and conflicts. We have over 20 years’ of experience working with and for older people to ensure that they are included in relief efforts and in humanitarian policies and guidelines.
We'll be tweeting from the World Humanitarian Summit, highlighting activities and discussions to call for an end of the neglect of older people in humanitarian action.
If you're on Twitter, follow these accounts and join the conversation:
Use the hashtag #ShareHumanity.