2015-03-12 17:50:00

The 1st Disaster Risk and Age Index tackles growing challenges


(Vatican Radio) A just released Index aims to reduce the risks faced by older people when confronted by natural or conflict-based disaster.

Launched by HelpAge International, a world-wide network that helps older people claim their rights, challenge discrimination and overcome poverty, the first “Disaster Risk and Age Index” ranks 190 countries on the disaster risk faced by older people.

It will be presented at next week’s World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Sendai, Japan.

Vatican Radio’s Linda Bordoni spoke to Clare Harris, Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience Advisor at Help Age International and one of the authors of the index.

Listen to the full interview:

Clare Harris explains that the “Disaster Risk and Age Index” is the first global index that looks specifically at the vulnerabilities and capacities of the older population in relationship to disaster.

“We know from research that older people are disproportionately affected by disaster, for example in Hurricane Katrina 75% of those who died were over the age of 60 but only constituted 16%  of the population” she says.

So, Harris says, the index spotlights the situation of older people and how at risk they are to disaster.

She explains that the index was created using a globally recognized risk index called “Inform” developed by the European Commission. The authors, she points out, analyzed the data therewith contained, looked at how it could be made age-specific, and then developed the Index from that.

Harris specifies that the index looks at risks stemming from natural disasters and from conflict-based disasters, but not yet from technological disasters such as for example “something like Fukushima”.

She says the Index was released this week in view of the World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction which will take place in Sendai from 14 to 18 March.

“This is where leaders will come together to agree a new framework going forward where  governments will have to report and measure themselves against this new framework on how well they are able to prepare, mitigate and respond to disasters” she said.

As well as promote the Index at the Conference, HelpAge will also be engaging with policy-makers and others “and within the actual report we have a number of specific recommendations in respect to age-inclusive disaster-risk reduction planning” she says.

Harris says that some of the recommendations specifically mention older people in national disaster management and climate policies which require direct action in planning, budgeting, training and response.

For example, she says, making sure rescue people “are properly trained in working and dealing in older people and providing for their needs”.

Another recommendation, Harris says, is that data be collected “so that if a disaster happens we know how many older people have been affected, if their needs have been met, and also that the actions by governments to improve the situation are actually inclusive of the most vulnerable”.

She says that HelpAge is also pushing for local-level monitoring systems so that the voices of those affected by disasters, including older people, can be acted upon.

Harris speaks of the physical vulnerability of elder people in the face of disaster but also points to social issues surrounding old age. For example people living alone and being cut off from others in their community; discrimination that means elder people are left out of planning processes and decision-making; all common situations that lead to disengagement and further vulnerability.

While the first part of the Disaster Risk Index focusses on statistics and data and makes a series of recommendations for planning to reduce the impact of disasters on the elderly, the second part of the Index also contains some “really positive examples of where older people and older people’s associations and community groups have been empowered to take control of their situation, to plan for disaster and to mitigate the impacts becoming real champions in their community for reducing risk” Harris says.

Reacting to Pope Francis’ warning that “where the elderly are not honoured there is no future for the young” Harris says that “we talk today about these older people who in 30 years’ time are going to be at increasing disaster risk all over the world: we’re actually talking about you and me”

“We need to create a world with systems in place – she says – that allow for all people to age in a way that is positive and not negative”.  

For more information on the Index and on the work of HelpAge International click here.   








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