This first international symposium on the health rights and care needs of older people in humanitarian crises featured around 60 participants together in Utrecht, with additional online participation via livestream. The symposium brought together experts from humanitarian assistance, geriatrics, human rights and public health to focus on an underexposed issue: the systematic underrepresentation of older people in crisis response.
Elderly people are among the most vulnerable groups in situations of conflict, natural disasters and epidemics. Chronic conditions, limited mobility, increased mental health risks and social exclusion make them especially vulnerable, while their specific needs are often insufficiently considered in emergency plans and relief strategies. This symposium aimed to explicitly address this gap and provide practical tools for more inclusive and equitable crisis response.
The day was opened by Elburg van Boetzelaer (Epidemiology Advisor, Doctors Without Borders / PhD candidate UMC Utrecht), followed by a welcome address by Amrish Baidjoe (Director Operational Research, MSF).
The programme included contributions from international experts, including Claudia Mahler (UN Independent Expert on the Enjoyment of All Human Rights of Older People, OHCHR), who outlined the human rights perspective on elderly care in crises. Rhea Tariq (HelpAge International) highlighted how and why older people are structurally overlooked in humanitarian response.
From a bioethical perspective, reflected Hans van Delden (UMC Utrecht) on the use of age in scarcity decisions. Practical experiences from medical operations were shared by Aissami Abdou (MSF), which addressed the gaps in care provision for the elderly in emergency situations.
The international dimension was further deepened with contributions on integrated care strategies from the World Health Organization (WHO), including the iCOPE approach, presented by Yuka Sumi. In addition, the Favila Escobio, Maria Kett, Basem Shaher and Ruth Kauffman case studies from different humanitarian contexts, including Syria and Ukraine. Their contributions underlined the importance of palliative care, assistive technology, mental health care and inclusive programme planning.
The day ended with a panel discussion led by Joyce Browne (UMC Utrecht), in which speakers and participants jointly reflected on concrete steps towards more inclusive humanitarian care.
The symposium was perceived by participants as having strong content and social urgency. Bringing together expertise from humanitarian operations, academic research, ethics and human rights created a multidisciplinary dialogue that was both policy and practically relevant. The meeting made it clear that improving care for older people in crises requires structural attention, international cooperation and an explicit embedding of older people's rights in humanitarian strategies.
More information and preparatory documents are available through Elburg van Boetzelaer's personal website.
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