Older people displaced by the ongoing civil war in Colombia are falling through the cracks of humanitarian support services due to a lack of information and understanding about their specific needs.

Over the past 10 years, up to 3.5 million people have been forced from their homes by the conflict. Yet none of the data collected on displaced people is disaggregated by age and older people are almost completely absent in policies and programmes delivered by government and NGOs. Without targeted support, many are struggling to rebuild their lives.

Older people face particular challenges

Assessments undertaken by HelpAge International in Colombia over the past three years show that older people are facing a particular set of challenges during conflict and displacement.

They find it more difficult to adapt to new surroundings and often have a greater need for psycho-social support after the violence they have experienced.

Illiteracy, lack of documentation and a limited understanding of official processes mean that many struggle to access healthcare and social security entitlements, as well as their package of support to internally displaced people.

Older people also find it harder to recover their livelihoods and face difficulties not only supporting themselves but the grandchildren that are often in their care.

"After our last son was killed, we had to leave"

Carmen and José Luís, both in their 70s, lost three sons to the internal conflict.

After their last son was killed in front of them in their home, they gathered their few possessions and moved from Cauca, on the south west coast of Colombia, to Soacha in the hills near Bogota.

Things are not easy for them in their new life. José Luís, who has been a fisherman all his life, is unable to earn an income without access to a river or the sea.

Assessing older people's needs

Recently fighting in Colombia has shifted to the south and west of the country including areas around Nariño, Choco and Cali - now one of the main recipient cities for displaced people.

In order to meet the needs of older people in these regions, HelpAge International is currently conducting an in-depth needs assessment to help develop a tailored programme of support for older people.

Tatiana Franco, Colombia Country Programme Director for HelpAge International, says:
“Older people quite clearly have a set of specific needs and capabilities which are not being met by current programmes and policies aimed at supporting displaced people.

“Not a single study on the effects of the conflict of older people has been conducted so far, and without this information the government and NGOs just don’t know where to start.

“By conducting this assessment we hope to determine the real needs of older people and fill the gap by delivering services that are tailored to their needs.

"Our hope is that this will act as a model for local and national government service providers so that they can improve their response to the needs of older people.”