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Protection Brief: The situation of older persons in Gaza (June 2025)

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This protection brief focuses on the heightened risks older persons face as a result of ongoing hostilities in Gaza. Older people have had essential roles in Gaza— leading communities, caring for relatives, and helping sustain collective memory. Limited mobility, chronic health conditions, and the collapse of health and support systems on which they previously depended all contribute to their vulnerability during the conflict, while frequent forced displacement, chronic shortages of food and clean water, and overcrowded and unhygienic living conditions further exacerbate the risks they face. The sheer scale of the crisis in Gaza has often masked their specific vulnerabilities and needs. Only a permanent ceasefire and unhindered humanitarian access can improve protection for civilians in Gaza, including older persons.