On December 6, Amnesty International released a report chronicling the disproportionate risks faced by older civilians in Ukraine in the aftermath of the Russian invasion. “I Used to Have a Home” documents how the Russian government’s act of aggression against Ukraine has resulted in massive consequences for older Ukrainians who are unable to flee conflict-affected areas. Older Ukrainians are more likely to live on below-subsistence earnings, thereby often relegating them to substandard housing after their displacement. They are relatively more likely to depend on the medical infrastructure, which has been battered by sustained Russian attacks in Ukraine as hospitals lack electricity or running water and are sometimes forced to operate under candlelight. Older Ukrainians have also made up a disproportionate number of civilians killed in the hostilities. To support older Ukrainians at grave risk, Congress should:
- Increase humanitarian and development assistance to Ukraine and require that older people are prioritized in the distribution of cash assistance;
- Support targeted programs to ensure that older Ukrainians are able to access adequate housing, medical cost, and survival goods; and
- Ensure that any long-term reconstruction support similarly considers the needs faced by vulnerable populations such as older Ukrainians.