Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Conflicts: Impact on Older People

09 July 2026 · 4 other contributors · 11,141 words

Opened by Jim Shannon DUP Strangford

Responding minister: Chris Elmore

UkraineForeign Affairs

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Jim Shannon raised concerns about conflicts: impact on older people in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • Concerns raised about the humanitarian impact of conflicts on older people globally, citing 200 million people aged 60 and over in fragile or conflict-affected settings.
  • The MP highlights difficulties faced by older people in Ukraine, Lebanon, and Sudan, including inability to afford basic medical needs and lack of humanitarian aid.
  • The MP asks the government to commit to age-inclusive humanitarian aid, focusing on medication continuity, accessible health services, and mental health support.

Key requests to Government

The MP asks the Minister to commit to making humanitarian aid age-inclusive, prioritising continuity of medication, accessible health services, assistive devices, safe evacuation, mental health support, and inclusive cash assistance. He also requests explicit reference to older women's protection against gender-based violence in conflict zones.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Jim Shannon DUP Strangford

The MP is concerned about the humanitarian impact of conflicts on older people, citing personal experiences and statistics. He mentions that approximately 200 million people aged 60 and over are living in fragile or conflict-affected settings globally. In Ukraine, one in four Ukrainians is aged over 60, with 90% of older people unable to pay for basic medical needs. The MP also highlights the difficulties faced by older people in Lebanon and Sudan due to displacement and lack of humanitarian aid. He stresses that older people are often invisible in data collection and face barriers such as inaccessible health services and age discrimination.

Other contributors (4)
  • Andrew Snowden Con Waveney

    Andrew Snowden highlighted the disproportionate impact of conflicts on older people, citing statistics from Ukraine where almost half of civilian deaths were individuals over 60 despite comprising only a quarter of the population. He emphasized the need to target overseas aid effectively and questioned how the budget could be reformed for better spending efficiency.

  • Gordon McKee Lab Easington

    My hon. Friend is making a powerful and important speech, particularly on women in Ukraine who have suffered sexual violence during war. Does she agree that having proper support for those women, and an ability to record what they have experienced, is important, not just to support them, but to make sure that when the war in Ukraine ends, justice, as much as it can be done, is done for those people?

  • John Milne LD Linlithgow and East Falkirk

    He highlighted the disproportionate impact of humanitarian crises on older people, especially those with disabilities. He cited examples such as Hurricane Katrina where 75% of deaths were among those over 60 despite making up only 16% of the population. Milne also noted that in Ukraine, older individuals have accounted for nearly half of civilian deaths since Russia's invasion began.

  • Rachael Maskell Lab York Central

    Discussed the impact of conflict on older people, citing life expectancy figures from Gaza, Sudan, Nigeria, and Chad. Emphasized reduced access to healthcare, targeting of health facilities, increased mental health issues due to gender-based violence, and lack of social care support. Raised concerns about severe cuts to international aid affecting humanitarian response. I am grateful because this is such a fundamental issue that I have focused on for some time. Will the Minister say what steps the Government are taking to expedite the process, and what kind of timescale are we looking at to see that convention in place? Additionally, will the Minister ensure that our Government take a real leadership role in moving forward work related to rights of older people, ensuring other nations contribute and participate, and establish rights-based systems for older people across the globe?

Government Response

Chris Elmore

It is a pleasure to serve with you in the Chair, Mr Betts. I thank the hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon) for securing this debate and my hon. Friend the Member for York Central (Rachael Maskell) for her contribution. The Foreign Secretary has been clear that tackling humanitarian need and reducing violence caused by conflict is a priority for the Foreign Office, with a vision to build a reformed humanitarian system focused on the most vulnerable. Older people are among those hardest hit by conflict but remain largely invisible; thus, three steps must be taken: recognise their disproportionate impact, integrate their needs into humanitarian responses, and involve them in decisions affecting their lives. The UK supports women-led projects addressing sexual violence and ensures evidence gathering for accountability. Specific work is done to support older people affected by conflicts like Ukraine and Sudan. I reassured the House that FCDO partners should use disaggregated data on sex, age, and disability to understand who is being reached and who is missing out on support. The UK is supportive of a UN convention on older persons, though negotiations are ongoing. The United Kingdom will continue to champion the protection, inclusion, and participation of older people in humanitarian action around the world.

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