Elderly earthquake survivors are being neglected and relief efforts are being mismatched in Sichuan because of a misunderstanding of the survivors' profiles, a Hong Kong disaster assessment expert said.
Emily Chan Ying-yang, associate professor at Chinese University's School of Public Health, made the remark after returning on Monday from a 10-day stay in Sichuan.
'Over 40 per cent of the patients we have treated are aged 60 or above,' said Dr Chan, a volunteer for Medecins Sans Frontieres.
'The age of the survivors in rural areas is very high because of the urban migration of the young. Many of them are suffering from diabetes, high blood pressure and arrhythmia ... and they are left behind by family members who have passed away, or decided to abandon them.
'We have heard of the adoption of orphans ... but the government and charity organisations have never paid any specific attention to the elderly in regard to their medical and social needs.'
She stressed that there was a lack of awareness of the age profiles and health conditions of the people affected by the quake.
The prioritisation of relief and rehabilitation work could be affected by various factors, Dr Chan said. Charity organisations may raise funds and supplies for specific tasks or target groups, to stay in line with their own mission statements.