Motion: To assure that this population has access to relevant healthcare, and insure inclusion, MSF should recognize the elderly as a distinctly vulnerable population; seek to understand their special medical and social vulnerabilities in the context of humanitarian crises.
Background and explanation: According to data from UN population division, the number of older persons — those aged 60 years or over — is expected to more than double by 2050 and to more than triple by 2100, rising from 962 million globally in 2017 to 2.1 billion in 2050 and 3.1 billion in 2100. Globally, population aged 60 or over is growing faster than all younger age groups.
With an aging global population, more elderly are impacted by conflict and natural disasters MSF has recognized the special vulnerabilities of women and children when health care is disrupted during conflict. The elderly with parallel risks albeit different needs are less visible and thereby receive less attention and relatively fewer appropriate services.
Increased age is often associated with increased frailty, morbidity, disability and decreased resiliency. They are both less able to flee and seek safety, and less visible to those who might help them. Isolated and unable to access medical humanitarian aid directed at the general population and the aid so conceived doesn’t necessarily address their needs. Thus they are marginalized and excluded.
Ukraine FAD, The joint MSF Sweden and Norway GA