The Hindu Business Line : `Needs of older people not recognised during tsunami relief'

OLDER people were not recognized as a highly vulnerable group by aid agencies in the aftermath of the tsunami attack in December 2004, HelpAge India said in its report, Older people in tsunami: Challenges of Survival.

HelpAge, a non-governmental organisation, which works for the care of older persons, said it did research in six affected districts in South India - Chennai, Kanchipurum, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Kanyakumari and Kollam.

The report was released by Mr Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission.

HelpAge said it interacted with 856 older people for its research report.

"There was no specific component in the relief operations for older people by any relief agency, as there was for children under the age of 10," a news release said.

"While government departments, NGOs and multilateral aid agencies had special nutrition and vaccination programs for children, and even recreational facilities, no thought was given to the needs of the elderly. They were not even consulted to determine their requirements and relief material was distributed to younger members, leaving it to their discretion to care for the elders," HelpAge said.

"Older people, by virtue of their lack of mobility and precarious support systems, are the most susceptible during any humanitarian crisis, leave aside a catastrophe of the magnitude of the tsunami. The aim of conducting this study is to identify lessons for future disaster-preparedness, and to press for inclusion of older people in the process of planning. We are hopeful that with the Planning Commission's involvement, the elderly will receive more attention," HelpAge said quoting its Chief Executive, Mr Mathew Cherian.

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