The Impact of the Indian Ocean Tsunami on Older People - Issues and recommendations

This report describes the impact of the Indian Ocean tsunami on older people in four severely affected countries – India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand – based on a rapid assessment survey carried out during the initial relief phase.
It aims to inform agencies working on relief and rehabilitation plans and to assist future emergency response planning.
Older people, often neglected in normal circumstances are even more vulnerable in disasters. Despite international protocols such as the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing and the Sphere guidelines the research confirms that in the tsunami they were not specifically targeted and in some cases, the relief effort discriminated against them. In many cases older men and women were unable
to access health care, food and cash support due to discrimination, lack of information or support mechanisms.
Older people form nearly 10 per cent of the population in Asia and before the tsunami they actively supported their families through cash earnings, pensions or work in kind – looking after children or working in family businesses. Now they want to be consulted on the decisions that affect them and secure support for themselves and their families to rebuild their livelihoods.