Middle East crisis

Haiti is in the grip of a severe humanitarian crisis marked by rampant gang violence, political instability, and deepening poverty.

After weeks of refuge in Syria, Ahmad returned to Beirut, navigating a long and difficult road and a city weighed down by grief. Home felt different - resilient yet fragile, with older people bearing the brunt of the conflict.

The statement decrying the world's collective failure comes as the French government convenes an international conference today on Lebanon.

Clothing, cash assistance and medication are what displaced people in Mount Lebanon urgently need according to a rapid needs assessment carried out by the Institute for Development, Research, Advocacy and Applied Care (IDRAAC), a member of the HelpAge global network in Lebanon.

The Israeli forces’ assault on Gaza has escalated to a horrifying level of atrocity. Northern Gaza is being wiped off the map.

"My heart is boiling. We are so down." These are the words of Dr. Umaiyeh Khammash, the director of Juzoor for Health and Social Development, a Palestinian NGO that has been tirelessly working to provide aid to the people of Gaza since the onset of hostilities.

Two members of the HelpAge global network have come under direct attack in the same week. 

The war in Gaza has been raging for almost a year now, sparing no one, regardless of age. 82-year-old Fatima Shahda has been forcibly displaced multiple times in the past year. She reflects on her experiences here.

Displacement orders force Gaza’s most vulnerable to flee south while humanitarian organizations struggle to safely deliver aid.

Aid organisations warn of dramatic escalation of humanitarian catastrophe following further mass forced displacement of civilians in northern Gaza.

This is a comprehensive study to examine existing research and reports on older Syrian refugees in Türkiye, highlighting their specific needs and concerns.

Chris McIvor, Regional Representative Eurasia and the Middle East, pens down his thoughts on the crisis in Gaza, one year on.

The surge of violence in Lebanon is placing tremendous strain on a country that is home to the highest proportion of older people in the Arab world.  

This is a horrific example of how some of the most vulnerable are being impacted by this ongoing conflict.

The August 2024 floods are the worst humanitarian disaster in the history of southeastern Bangladesh, affecting approximately 5.8 million people.

On September 8, 2023, a devastating 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck central Morocco. One year on, the challenges remain immense.

A personal account by Oday El-Meghari, the Executive Director of El Wedad, a Palestinian civil society association based in Gaza.

Older people are among the most vulnerable in this crisis.

On the occasion of Ukraine's Independence Day, we speak with older Ukrainians about what freedom and independence mean to them.

The world is failing its humanitarian workers, and by extension, the millions of vulnerable people they serve.

Exploring the impact of the Ukraine war on mobility and social inclusion of older people, and the barriers to their involvement in community life.

ASRSP plays a pivotal role in this mission, offering timely support that helps communities not just survive but thrive in the face of adversity.

At 75 years old, Dr. Yehia Abed, director of operations for Juzoor, a non-governmental organisation in Gaza, has witnessed more than 20 wars.

The devastating floods that are sweeping through Nairobi, Kisumu, Nakuru and Tana River counties in Kenya, claiming more than 200 lives, have created significant challenges for the people caught up in the crisis.

People in Rafah have faced multiple displacements over the past seven months. This is particularly challenging for older people, especially those with health conditions, mobility issues and on the verge of severe malnutrition.

HelpAge International has announced the appointment of Rhea Tariq as its new Director of Global Impact.

HelpAge International is deeply alarmed by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification’s (IPC) Acute Food Insecurity Analysis findings, which state that “famine is imminent in the northern governorates [of Gaza] and projected to occur anytime between mid-March and May 2024”.

The right to food is a basic human right but around the world millions of people go hungry every day. This gets worse during humanitarian crises, as we are seeing in the current conflict in Gaza, where famine is a very real threat.

Joint INGOs statement on airdrops and sea routes to the Gaza Strip – Released 13 March 2024

The decision by twenty major donors to withdraw funding from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinians in the Middle East (UNRWA) has sent shockwaves through the humanitarian landscape.

This blog piece reflects insights by Javeria Afzal, climate change advisor at HelpAge International, during a panel discussion on Women and Climate Change, organised by FemConsortia in February 2024.

Interim Country Director for HelpAge International in Ukraine tells her story and reflects on the resilience of older generation after two years of war.

HelpAge International's latest briefing emphasises the urgent need that any intervention by the international community must include plans to address the needs of older people and ensure the provision of services they require for their basic wellbeing.

A commitment to improve healthcare for the indigenous communities and migrants.

A new report looks at the changing roles of older people in northwest Syria after 13 years of conflict and the devastation caused by the 2023 earthquake.

With the close of 2023 approaching, we take a moment to reflect on our endeavours this year.

The ongoing war in Gaza has unleashed a devastating wave of displacement, leaving many older people stranded in overcrowded temporary shelters in northern Gaza.

The unfolding events in Israel and Gaza are having a devastating impact on older people caught up in the conflict

Staff from our Palestinian network member - Juzoor for Health and Social Development talks to us about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Open Call for an Immediate Ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and Israel to Prevent a Humanitarian Catastrophe and Further Loss of Innocent Lives

As we mark World Food Day on 16 October, we take a look at the challenges facing older people in low- and middle-income countries as they struggle to fulfill one of the most essential of human rights: the right to food.

HelpAge statement on Israel and Gaza

Housing woes, income insecurity and healthcare obstacles amongst top priorities.

HelpAge response to the earthquake in Morocco

Gender disparities, healthcare obstacles, and food insecurity among urgent concerns.

Involving older people in policy formulation and review in Lebanon

We look at the impact of the global food, fuel and finance crisis in Colombia, and what this means for older people who are often overlooked.

Health centres in Gaza badly affected by air attacks despite already operating under severe constraints, grappling with years of resource shortages.

A call for an age inclusive reform and recovery.

In the run up to the seventh Brussels Conference on 'Supporting the future of Syria and the region’, we are calling for a shake-up of humanitarian funding.

HelpAge International's latest briefing emphasises the urgent need that any international community intervention must include plans to alleviate the suffering of older people and ensure the provision of services they require for their wellbeing.

The right to food is a basic human right but around the world millions of people go hungry every day. This gets worse during humanitarian crises, as we are seeing in the current conflict in Gaza, where famine is a very real threat.