The war in Ukraine is taking a heavy toll on the elderly. This is the conclusion of a new report by Amnesty International. This category is at risk of being killed or injured and is the most affected by displacement, says Laura Mills.
“They are often left behind in areas that are the target of Russian attacks. Unlike other categories, they cannot shelter in bomb shelters or elsewhere, so they often shelter in their homes, which puts them at high risk of death or injury. When they do move, they have housing difficulties, they often live in poverty, they have disabilities, which makes it harder for them to find housing,” said Laura Mills, Amnesty International researcher.
Almost 1/4 of the population of Ukraine is over 60 years old. The Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights at the UN says that in the February-September period, this age group accounted for 34% of civilians killed in the war.
Amnesty calls on other countries to facilitate the evacuation of elderly people and also urges international organizations to cooperate with the Ukrainian authorities to support them financially.