This paper explores the major policy and practice issues
affecting humanitarian protection and assistance for older
people, and recommends measures to ensure that older
citizens caught up in humanitarian crises enjoy equal rights
and a fair share of humanitarian resources, and are included
in decision-making in programmes that affect their lives. It
aims to add to the small body of work relating to protection
and assistance issues specific to older people. HelpAge
International is one of the few international organisations
that works for older people, and its emergency operations
are limited. Therefore, the paper highlights gaps in
knowledge and areas where further research and work are
required, in the hope of stimulating further progress in this
important area.
