On 1 October 2025, marking the International Day of Older Persons, the Knowledge Centre Global Health (KCGH)co-organized the International Symposium on Healthcare Rights and Needs of Older People in Humanitarian Crises together with Médecins sans Frontières (MSF), HelpAge International, and the University Medical Center Utrecht (UMCU).

The symposium drew attention to the often-overlooked health and social needs of older people affected by conflict, displacement, and disasters. Despite their vital roles as caregivers and community anchors, older people continue to face barriers to care — from limited mobility and chronic diseases to social isolation and structural ageism.

Confronting ageism and advancing rights

Speakers from the UN, WHO, MSF, HelpAge International, and leading universities explored how ageism, data gaps, and donor priorities contribute to the invisibility of older people in humanitarian response. In her keynote, Claudia Mahler, UN Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons, reminded participants that “the right to health does not disappear in times of crisis.”

From Lebanon to Latin America and the Sahel, contributors including Maya Abi Chahine (American University of Beirut), Javier Manrique (Convite, Venezuela), and Aissami Abdou (MSF Sahel region) illustrated how older people are frequently left without accessible healthcare or assistive devices, and how social exclusion compounds vulnerability. Rhea Tariq of HelpAge International and Basem Shaher of Syrian Expatriates Medical Organization (SEMA) reflected on how donor deprioritization and institutional biases continue to sideline older people in crisis planning.

Voices from the field and pathways forward

Field experiences shared by MSF staff such as Ruth Kauffman and Favila Escobio highlighted the diverse needs of ageing populations in humanitarian settings — from sexual and reproductive health to palliative care. Discussions also explored community-based models of support and the WHO Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE) approach, presented by Yuka Sumi, as a promising framework for person-centred and coordinated care in crisis contexts.

Towards inclusion and dignity

Throughout the day, participants with backgrounds in humanitarian response, ethics, ageing, and health systems reflected on the need for structural change and stronger rights frameworks — including minimum standards for older people in crises and a potential UN convention on the rights of older persons.

By bringing together experts from across disciplines and regions, the symposium marked an important step towards ensuring that older people are fully seen, counted, and cared for in humanitarian action — with dignity, equity, and inclusion at the centre.

📰 Read the full blog by Elburg van Boetzelaer on PLOS Global Health: Speaking of Medicine:
👉 Symposium on ageing in crisis: Advancing the overlooked healthcare rights and needs of older people in humanitarian crises