Two months on, Beirut’s elderly women are still reeling from the blast

Date: Monday, October 26, 2020

According to a rapid assessment that UN Women and ACTED produced immediately after the August 2020 explosion, elderly women are among the most vulnerable. They are less likely than men to have worked in their life, to have savings or pensions, and are over-represented among Lebanon’s poorest.

From where I stand: “I want the views of older persons included in the planning of COVID-19 recovery programmes for my community”

Date: Monday, July 13, 2020

Monica Chiwalo is 82 and mostly dependent on her children. She raised four children on her own after the death of her husband. The COVID-19 outbreak in Tanzania has devastated the livelihoods of families that rely on the informal sector and have no safety nets. Elderly women like Chiwalo are especially vulnerable to its health and economic impacts. Their voice and experience must be included in recovery efforts.