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Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
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| Older refugees in humanitarian emergencies | | Author(s) | Ann Burton, Catherine Breen |
| Journal title | The Lancet, vol 360, Supplement, December 2002 |
| Pages | p s47-s48 [Review 2002] |
| Annotation | Both authors have worked in the field of humanitarian emergencies and write of the vulnerability of older people in such situations, especially in trying to access health services because of physical disabilities or eyesight problems. Mental health issues also affect a large proportion of older people, who have a profound sense of loss after displacement from their homeland. In 2001, the UNHCR approved a policy on older refugees (Older refugees: a resource for the refugee community, Geneva); based on the 1991 UN Principles for Older Persons, the policy emphasises the importance of seeing older refugees not just as passive beneficiaries of assistance but also as valuable resources with much to offer. Interventions targeting older individuals should encourage those who are able to meet their basic needs with minimum assistance, rather than foster reliance on the relief effort. Such efforts should also focus on restoring a sense of safety, routine and dignity to older refugees. (KJ). |
| Accession Number | CPA-060317207 A |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
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| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
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