Gaza crisis

For older people in Gaza, life remains marked by uncertainty and hardship, more so since the ongoing crisis with Israel. Repeated cycles of conflict and disruption have eroded vital systems of care, leaving many without the security and dignity they deserve.  

HelpAge and its partners the Agriculture Development Association (PARC) and Juzoor for Health and Social Development are working to ensure their needs are not overlooked and their voices are heard in the humanitarian response. 

 

Hidden in plain sight 

  • Older people (aged 60+) make up about 5 % of Gaza’s population, but account for roughly 7 % of all recorded deaths during the conflict. 
  • Estimates put the number of older people in Gaza around 111,500, many of whom now face life-threatening deprivation.  
  • Before the war, HelpAge research found that 97% of older people had at least one chronic health condition, 86% had at least one disability, and 80% used medicines or medical supplies; 44% were entirely dependent on family support for daily needs. 
  • Since October 2023, health care access has been decimated: medication supplies are cut, hospitals damaged or nonfunctional, and medical evacuations extremely limited.  

Older people are especially at risk to dehydration, malnutrition, the breakdown of chronic disease care, isolation, and exposure to violence or neglect. 

Why older people must not be overlooked 

Older people bring resilience, knowledge, and community roles – but in times of conflict the risks they face intensify. They are at higher risk of: 

  • Complications from chronic disease when treatment is interrupted 
  • Malnutrition or dehydration 
  • Physical injury, falls, or inability to flee quickly 
  • Isolation, psychological distress, and neglect 
  • Gendered risks: older women may face abuse and reduced access to decision-making. 

 

What is urgently needed now 

Through our partners PARC and Juzoor, we are working to provide: 

  • Sustained humanitarian access to reach older people in hard-to-access areas 
  • Tailored medical support, including access to primary healthcare and essential medicines, mobility aids, and rehabilitation 
  • Food items, hygiene kits and enhanced access to water by funding community initiatives 
  • Inclusive shelter, protection, and psychosocial support, with attention to mobility, privacy, dignity 
  • Monitoring, data disaggregation, and age-sensitive planning to ensure older people are explicitly included in all response efforts.  

 

A lasting ceasefire is vital but turning ceasefire into recovery requires sustained investment, targeted action, and recognition: older people must not become invisible. 

 

Subscribe to our newsletter

X