Disaster risk reduction

Putting 'old' at the center of 'new' inclusive DRR framework

Four years ago, a powerful earthquake and tsunami hit Japan, where 56 percent of the people who died were aged 65 and over. How can the elderly — deemed among the most vulnerable groups during disasters — help create a more inclusive DRR framework and reduce their disaster risks?

By Lean Alfred Santos // 11 March 2015

Rebecca Rita is among the fortunate survivors of a powerful typhoon that lashed through central Philippines in November 2013, but the 62-year-old, who has heart and liver problems, remains vulnerable to the negative impact of future disasters.

Because of age-related factors such as poor eyesight, hearing and mobility, older people tend to be relatively isolated, making them one of the most vulnerable when disasters strike. Poverty and discrimination play a factor as well.

This is the focus of a new index released by London-based organization HelpAge International, which looks into the vulnerabilities the elderly face during disasters.

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