The ongoing war in Gaza has unleashed a devastating wave of displacement, leaving many older people stranded in overcrowded temporary shelters in northern Gaza. As the crisis deepens, older people find themselves facing an increasingly dire situation.
Many have been forced to leave their homes, seeking refuge in makeshift centers, where they face deteriorating conditions, depleted essential services, and a severe shortage of vital medications.
Juzoor for Health and Social Development, a HelpAge partner based in Palestine is working on the frontlines in Gaza providing support in temporary shelters, seeking to address the needs of older people.
Shaaban Mortaja, a Gaza-based Project Manager for Juzoor, highlighting the challenges that they are facing.There are nearly 3,000 older people in the makeshift centres many of whom are suffering from hypertension and diabetes and are in urgent need of medication. This is due to the closure of the existing governmental and UNRWA health centres in northern Gaza during the first week of the conflict.