Multisectoral IHA to most vulnerable older people affected by the conflict in Eastern Ukraine

November 2024 - Older Ukrainians face unique challenges accessing essential items and basic services in conflict-affected areas. This is particularly the case in front-line areas such as Donetsk and Kharkiv where intense fighting and displacement severely impacted infrastructure and livelihoods. With 8.9 million individuals over the age of 60 across the country addressing this need is crucial. With GAC’s support HelpAge Canada helps provide essential services to 5 000 older people in need in Dnipro Donetsk Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia. These services include life-saving psychosocial support protection hygiene kits multi-purpose cash assistance (MPCA) legal aid and winterization non-food items. This project aims to enhance the resilience and well-being of at-risk older people including those with disabilities by providing sustained access to essential care basic services and support in Eastern Ukraine. Project activities include: (1) revising response program activities outcomes and monitoring frameworks to address and monitor specific age and gender-related needs where relevant; (2) providing basic psychosocial support assistive products and training on fitting and maintaining devices with older persons and caregivers. Also offering legal psychological and social services to at-risk older people; (3) distributing MPCA winterization non-food items such as winter clothes and blankets and hygiene kits that include diapers and urological pads to most at-risk older people. These include those with and without disabilities; and (4) organizing awareness raising workshops and seminars for humanitarian actors on age and disability inclusion.

The expected outcomes of this project include: (1) improved access to humanitarian support that is age disability and gender-sensitive. This is done by contributing to the overall care and wellbeing of at-risk homebound older people with and without disabilities and their caregivers in Eastern Ukraine; (2) increased access to basic essential goods and services for at-risk older people with and without disabilities; and (3) improved access to age and disability inclusive and gender responsive humanitarian support and assistance for the most at-risk older people with and without disabilities in Eastern Ukraine. The expected ultimate outcome is lives saved suffering alleviated and human dignity maintained in countries experiencing humanitarian crises or acute food insecurity.