More than 2 million people impacted as Super Typhoon Goni sweeps across the Philippines
Oxfam is working with local partners and coordinating with local governments in the Philippines to assess the damage and needs of affected communities following Super Typhoon Goni’s four landfalls yesterday and early this morning. At least two million people or 400,000 families have been affected, with thousands of homes damaged or destroyed, and at least 10 people…
Read MoreTrue value of climate finance is just a third of that reported by developed countries: Oxfam
The true value of money provided by developed countries to help developing nations respond to the climate crisis may be just a third of the amount reported, according to Oxfam estimates published today. Oxfam’s Climate Finance Shadow Report 2020 estimates that donors reported $59.5 billion USD per year on average in 2017 and 2018 –…
Read MoreThe Hunger Virus: ‘Abysmally low’ funding for 55 million people facing extreme hunger in 7 worst-affected countries
The threat of “COVID-19 famines” and widespread extreme hunger is setting off every alarm bell within the international community, but so far sluggish funding is hampering humanitarian agencies’ efforts to deliver urgent assistance to people in need. A new Oxfam analysis says that the international community’s response to global food insecurity has been dangerously inadequate.…
Read MoreDonors slash funding to Yemen by half to 25 US cents a day per person in need
Catastrophic impact of cuts to funding already being felt Donors have given the equivalent of 25 US cents per day for each of the 24.3 million people in need in Yemen, about half the amount given last year, Oxfam warned today. The dramatic cut comes despite COVID-19 heaping further challenges on a country already suffering…
Read MoreOxfam Canada applauds Canadian leadership to end COVID everywhere and build back better
Ottawa – Today the Prime Minster made substantive commitments to advance the fight against COVID-19 around the world and to fuel investment and action by other nations. “We applaud Canada’s leadership at the UN General Assembly, announcing $400 million in new international assistance funding to support some of the most vulnerable communities and countries in the…
Read MoreOxfam Canada welcomes commitments to feminist green recovery in Throne Speech
OTTAWA – Oxfam Canada applauds the government’s commitments to an intersectional feminist and green response to COVID-19 in the latest Throne Speech. Some of the major highlights include: The promise to establish a pan-Canadian childcare system, and investing in the care sector through providing more accessible long-term care solutions for seniors and supporting care workers…
Read MoreCarbon emissions of richest 1 per cent more than double the emissions of the poorest half of humanity
The richest one per cent of the world’s population are responsible for more than twice as much carbon pollution as the 3.1 billion people who made up the poorest half of humanity during a critical 25-year period of unprecedented emissions growth, according to a new report released by Oxfam today. The report, ‘Confronting Carbon Inequality’,…
Read MoreSmall group of rich nations have bought up more than half of the future supply of leading COVID-19 vaccine contenders
Wealthy nations representing just 13 per cent of the world’s population have already cornered more than half (51%) of the promised doses of leading COVID-19 vaccine candidates, Oxfam warned today. Oxfam analyzed the deals that pharmaceutical corporations and vaccine producers have already struck with nations around the world for the five leading vaccine candidates currently…
Read MoreOxfam’s letter to the Prime Minister in advance of the throne speech
The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau Prime Minister of Canada 80 Wellington Street Ottawa, ON K1A 0A2 Re: Priorities for the throne speech Dear Prime Minister Trudeau, In light of the upcoming speech to the throne, Oxfam would like to encourage your government to prioritize a feminist approach to Canada’s COVID-19 recovery. In recent months, your…
Read MorePandemic profits for companies soar by billions as poorest pay price – Oxfam
Some corporations are cashing in on Covid-19 on behalf of the wealthiest Thirty-two of the world’s largest companies stand to see their profits jump by more than $109 billion in 2020 as the Covid-19 pandemic lays bare an economic model that delivers profits for the wealthiest on the back of the poorest, according to…
Read MoreBeirut: One month since the blast and thousands can’t afford a front door
One month since the massive blast in Beirut, tens of thousands of vulnerable people are unable to rebuild their homes, with a single front door costing two months’ worth of a minimum-wage salary, warned Oxfam today. Longstanding inequality, massive inflation and COVID-19 have compounded this humanitarian disaster for tens of thousands, making it almost impossible…
Read MoreMENA billionaires’ wealth increased by $10 billion, enough to pay Beirut blast repair bill
The 21 billionaires in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), all of them men, saw their wealth increase by nearly $10 billion USD since the start of the COVID-19 crisis, almost double the estimated amount required to rebuild Lebanon’s shattered capital, while 45 million more people in the region could be pushed to poverty…
Read MoreOne air raid every 10 days on hospitals, clinics, wells and water tanks throughout Yemen war
COVID-19 quarantine centres reportedly hit in March and April Medical and water infrastructure in Yemen has been hit during air raids almost 200 times since the conflict escalated more than five years ago, Oxfam said today, as the country continued to battle its outbreak of COVID-19. That’s equivalent to one air raid every 10 days…
Read MoreCrisis in Lebanon: Donations to the Humanitarian Coalition will be matched by the Government of Canada to provide emergency assistance
OTTAWA – The Humanitarian Coalition commends the commitment of the Canadian government to match the donations made to provide assistance to the Lebanese people, after the disaster that devastated the city of Beirut, Lebanon. It is estimated that the explosion on August 4 of a warehouse in the port of Beirut has left at least…
Read MoreOxfam prepares response to Beirut explosion
Oxfam is working with local partners to assess how it can help those who have lost their homes and livelihoods in the Beirut explosion on August 4. Oxfam is extremely concerned about the ability of communities in Beirut, and the rest of Lebanon, to recover from the latest crisis. Even before the blast, Lebanon was…
Read MoreYemen facing hidden cholera crisis as COVID-19 cases set to peak in coming weeks: Oxfam
Thousands of people in Yemen could be dying from undetected cases of cholera because COVID-19 has overwhelmed the country’s health facilities and people are too frightened to seek treatment for fear of the virus, Oxfam said today. The number of coronavirus cases in Yemen is likely to peak in the coming weeks while the heaviest…
Read MoreSevere flooding hits Bangladesh in midst of coronavirus crisis
Landslide fears as heavy rains hit Cox’s Bazar Heavy rains have swollen river basins in north Bangladesh, leading to severe flooding, submerging towns and destroying homes and crops in a region already suffering due to the coronavirus pandemic, Oxfam said today. The floods, which are predicted to peak this weekend (July 18 and 19), have…
Read MoreOxfam reaction to passage of UN Security Council resolution to extend cross-border aid into Syria
In response to news that the UN Security Council’s resolution allowing cross-border aid into Syria was renewed but modified, allowing for one cross-border response, and excluding the crucial Al-Yaroubiyeh crossing, Oxfam in Syria’s Country Director Moutaz Adham said: “While we welcome the renewal of the resolution to allow cross-border aid, we are very concerned that…
Read More12,000 people per day could die from COVID-19 linked hunger by end of year, potentially more than the disease, warns Oxfam
Eight of the biggest food and beverage companies pay out USD $18 billion to shareholders as new epicentres of hunger emerge across the globe As many as 12,000 people could die per day by the end of the year as a result of hunger linked to COVID-19, potentially more than could die from the disease,…
Read MoreMyanmar: INGOs concerned upsurge in fighting in Rakhine State will cause greater hunger, displacement and vulnerability
As international humanitarian organizations working with communities throughout Rakhine State, we express deep concern for all those affected by the upsurge in fighting between the Arakan Army (AA) and the Myanmar Military in northern Rakhine State. This area in and around the Kyauk Tan village tract is home to more than 10,000 people and local…
Read MoreSyria crisis: Hunger spreading amid COVID-19 and economic collapse
International agencies call for Brussels Conference to address fall-out from the pandemic Syrians who have already endured almost a decade of war and displacement are now facing unprecedented levels of hunger leaving millions of people acutely vulnerable to COVID-19, international agencies warned today ahead of a key annual conference on the crisis. COVID-19 restrictions, the…
Read More71 per cent of Canadian women feeling more anxious, depressed, isolated, overworked or ill because of increased unpaid care work caused by COVID-19: Oxfam survey
Ottawa – Seventy-one per cent of women surveyed in Canada reported feeling more anxious, depressed, isolated, overworked, or ill because of having to shoulder even more unpaid care work as a result of the COVID-19 crisis, according to national poll results released by Oxfam Canada today. The Canadian poll results were significantly higher in comparison…
Read MoreCanada can champion gender equality without UN Security Council seat
OTTAWA — Earlier today, Canada lost its bid to be elected to a two-year term on the United Nations Security Council. Despite this loss, Canada can and must still advance its global goals through its Feminist Foreign Policy. Canada must play a constructive global role through continuing to support efforts to advance gender equality and…
Read MoreOxfam redoubling efforts to strengthen safeguarding and culture in face of COVID-19
Oxfam has continued its journey in changing its culture and improving its safeguarding of staff and the people with whom we work. In its latest report (Oct 2019-Mar 2020), Oxfam notes that the COVID-19 crisis risks diverting people’s attention away from these important issues, so it has re-doubled efforts to keep its improvement plan on…
Read MoreSolidarity in the Fight Against Anti-Black Racism
Black Lives Matter We believe in a just world without poverty. We can’t fight inequality, or end poverty, if we don’t challenge racism. As a feminist organization, we are clear that racial justice and gender justice go hand in hand. To promote women’s rights we must fight racism too. We believe in the power of…
Read MoreOver 5 million Yemenis at risk of losing access to food and clean water as coronavirus spreads in Yemen
*Survey conducted in Yemen reveals impact of funding shortfalls as pledging conference is held today Recent funding gaps and other challenges in Yemen will put an additional estimated 5.5 million people in the war-torn country at risk of losing access to life-saving aid, such as food, cash and clean water this year, 24 international humanitarian…
Read MoreMoney transfers to Yemen plummet as needs surge amid war and COVID-19
There has been an unprecedented decline in the flow of remittances to Yemen – a vital source of money for millions – just as cases of COVID-19 surge and international aid dries up in a country already devastated by more than five years of war. Oxfam is calling on the international community to ensure funding…
Read MoreNew swarms of locusts threaten to increase hunger in East Africa reeling from floods and COVID-19: Oxfam
Flooding and COVID-19 restrictions create perfect conditions for locusts to multiply Oxfam warned today that millions of people in East and Central Africa, already suffering due to flooding and the impact of COVID-19, are at risk of increased hunger and poverty as the region braces for the latest generation of locusts which are due to…
Read MoreOxfam responds to devastation in the wake of Cyclone Amphan
Cyclone Amphan has left a trail of devastation throughout north-east India and the Bangladesh coast, with over 80 deaths reported so far, destroying homes, embankments and crops, and compounding the suffering in many communities already hit by coronavirus and the impact of the lockdown. The low-lying coastal communities in both countries are amongst the worst…
Read MoreOxfam Canada Statement on the Reorganization of Oxfam Confederation Structures
Following the announcement earlier this week on the acceleration of new strategic changes to Oxfam’s global operations, Oxfam Canada reconfirms its commitment to its existing programs and to a continued focus on women’s rights and gender justice. “Oxfam Canada will continue our programs worldwide to support women’s rights and tackle the root causes of poverty,…
Read More‘Crisis on top of crisis’ as India and Bangladesh brace for super Cyclone Amphan – Oxfam
Cyclone Amphan, the strongest ever cyclone recorded over the Bay of Bengal, is expected to hit north-east India and Bangladesh tomorrow (Wednesday, 20 May) threatening millions of people in vulnerable communities already affected by COVID-19 outbreaks and lockdown. Millions of people are being evacuated in India and 12,000 shelters have been prepared in Bangladesh to…
Read MoreCyclone threatens Cox’s Bazar as first Covid-19 cases are confirmed – Oxfam
Almost one million Rohingya people in the world’s largest refugee camp are facing the added threat of a cyclone as the first cases of Covid-19 are confirmed, Oxfam warned today. The cyclone, which looks likely to form off the coast over the weekend, could bring further suffering and destruction to the camps on top of a…
Read MoreVaccinating poorest half of humanity against COVID-19 could cost less than 4 month’s big pharma profits – Oxfam
Vaccinating the poorest half of humanity – 3.7 billion people – against COVID-19 could cost less than the 10 biggest pharmaceutical companies make in four months, Oxfam said today. The agency is urging governments and pharmaceutical companies to guarantee that vaccines, tests, and treatments will be patent-free and equitably distributed to all nations and people,…
Read MoreProtect the women who make our clothes: Canada’s unions and civil society organizations call for action
Seven years after the tragic Rana Plaza building collapse, Bangladesh garment sector workers now confront even more risk and vulnerability in the fight against COVID-19. Canada’s unions and civil society organizations are calling for immediate relief for workers and protection of rights in global supply chains. The coalition says that concerns for workers cannot stop…
Read MoreCOVID-19: 50 million people threatened by hunger in West Africa
According to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the impact of the coronavirus pandemic could increase the number of people at risk of a food insecurity and malnutrition from 17 million to 50 million people between June and August 2020. As Ramadan begins this week, eight regional and international organizations warn of the…
Read MoreIMF’s gold holdings soar by nearly $20B since start of COVID-19 pandemic
The International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) gold holdings have increased in value by USD $19.3 billion since the start of the global coronavirus pandemic, said Oxfam today. This increase alone is equivalent to more than the total debt (USD $12.4 billion) owed this year by the poorest countries to multilateral institutions like the IMF and World…
Read MoreHalf a billion people could be pushed into poverty by coronavirus, warns Oxfam
The economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic could push half a billion more people into poverty unless urgent action is taken to bail out developing countries, said Oxfam today. The agency is calling on world leaders to agree an ‘Economic Rescue Package for All’ to keep poor countries and poor communities afloat, ahead of key…
Read MoreUp to 250 people per single water tap in refugee camps braced for arrival of coronavirus
Refugees living in camps are sharing one tap between up to 250 people and many have less than 3.5 square metres of living space per person, which will make it extremely difficult to contain a coronavirus outbreak, Oxfam said today. The virus could also be catastrophic for people and places hit by conflicts, like Yemen,…
Read MoreHealth spending in poor countries must double immediately to prevent millions of deaths: Oxfam
Oxfam today called for a package of nearly CAD $224.4 billion in immediate debt cancellation and aid to fund a Global Public Health Plan and Emergency Response, to help prevent millions of deaths as a result of the Coronavirus. The five-point plan would enable poor countries to take action to prevent the spread of the…
Read More50 suspected cholera cases every hour for five years in Yemen
Covid-19 pandemic poses new challenge to country already devastated by war With a recent upsurge in fighting in Yemen, the forthcoming rainy season and tightening of borders due to the global Covid-19 pandemic, there’s no end in sight to the daily toll of death, disease and displacement five years after the conflict escalated, Oxfam warned…
Read MoreOxfam Feminist Scorecard shows federal government falling short on women’s rights on economy, climate and Indigenous women
(Ottawa) –The federal government’s progress in delivering on its bold feminist commitments has been uneven over the past year and, despite some historic policy changes, falls particularly short in areas rooted in the economy, climate, and Indigenous women’s rights, according to a new report from Oxfam Canada. On the heels of International Women’s Day, Oxfam…
Read MoreTens of thousands of people are still suffering one year on from Cyclone Idai
Tens of thousands of people across Zimbabwe, Malawi and Mozambique are still suffering 12 months after Cyclone Idai battered Southern Africa, warned Oxfam today. Cyclone Idai, one of the worst cyclones to hit Africa, made landfall on March 14, 2019. A new Oxfam briefing, ‘After the Storm,’ highlights that over 100,000 people in Mozambique and…
Read MoreRainy season threatens huge cholera spike in Yemen as conflict hampers efforts to address forgotten crisis
Yemen is suffering a forgotten cholera crisis, Oxfam said today, as it warned the number of people there with the disease could spiral as the country approaches rainy season in April and health systems are close to collapse. The north is at greatest risk because of the scarcity of water in the area. The five governorates…
Read MoreOxfam and aid organizations extremely concerned about recent military escalation in Yemen
In reaction to the strikes on Jawf governorate, northern Yemen, which killed 31 and injured 12 civilians on February 15, Oxfam and ten international aid organizations working in Yemen said: We are shocked and deeply saddened to hear about the deaths of 31 civilians and the injury of 12 others in strikes on Al Jawf…
Read MoreStatement of Concern – Northwest Syria
As violence continues to escalate in northwest Syria, 10 Canadian aid agencies are warning that the number of people displaced could reach one million by next week unless immediate action is taken. In the past five days alone, 142,000 people have fled their homes, bringing the total number of people displaced – most of them…
Read MoreLocusts swarm into northern Uganda as Oxfam looks toward a $5m humanitarian response across region
Locust infestations have just hit two new districts in northern Uganda as they continue to plague Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia, and threaten Sudan and South Sudan. There are also reports of the swarms now in Tanzania. “Everyone is in panic and trying to make noise to drive the locusts away,” says Oxfam’s Ethiopia Country Director…
Read MoreOxfam Canada welcomes Lauren Ravon as new Executive Director and Kate Higgins as Interim Executive Director
Following a rigorous international search, the Oxfam Canada Board of Directors is thrilled to announce that Lauren Ravon will be the next Executive Director of Oxfam Canada. Lauren has been with Oxfam Canada since 2011, holding a number of roles and working tirelessly to put women’s rights at the heart of Oxfam’s work. She is…
Read MoreWorld’s richest 1% have more than twice as much wealth as 6.9 billion people, says Oxfam
(Ottawa) – Global inequality is out of control with the world’s richest one per cent having more than twice as much wealth as 6.9 billion people, and much of that wealth is built on the backs of women working billions of hours every day doing unpaid or underpaid care work, according to a new Oxfam…
Read MoreUS-Iran conflict restricting aid work in Iraq: Oxfam
Oxfam’s humanitarian work in Iraq is restricted due to heightened security concerns, road checkpoints and travel difficulties, following Iranian missile attacks on US military bases in Iraq overnight in retaliation for the US killing of the Iranian General Suleimani. “We have had to suspend work in three locations where we were delivering cash aid to…
Read MoreWater, food and shelter first priorities in coastal communities devastated by Typhoon Phanfone
After the devastation wrought by Typhoon Phanfone (local name Ursula), which made seven landfalls mainly in Central Philippines between December 24 until the afternoon of December 25, development agency Oxfam and its partners say there is an urgent need for humanitarian assistance. Oxfam Philippines Country Director Maria Rosario Felizco said that many of communities impacted…
Read MoreOxfam Office in Al Dhale’e, Yemen Hit by RPGs
On 22 December, at around 1am, Oxfam’s office in Al Dhale’e was attacked by two RPGs (rocket-propelled grenades). One hit the roof, while the other hit the office gate. Neither of the guards on duty were injured and there were no other staff present. The offices of several other agencies in Al Dhale’e were also targeted…
Read MoreGlobal refugee forum promotes refugee participation, but world leaders need to do more to deliver real change for refugees, says Oxfam
The Global Refugee Forum ended today with refugees making sure that their message to be fully included in all decisions about their futures was heard by world leaders. Oxfam welcomes the real strides which have been taken to include more refugees at the Forum, they have been represented on high-level panels alongside governments, business leaders,…
Read MoreGlobal Refugee Forum crucial moment to deliver on commitments
The processes for supporting the world’s 25.9 million refugees and 3.5 million asylum seekers, continue to be fatally flawed and putting the responsibility unfairly upon some of the poorest countries, says Oxfam ahead of the first ever Global Refugee Forum, taking place in Geneva this week. Danny Sriskandarajah, the Chief Executive at Oxfam Great Britain…
Read MoreOne year since Stockholm Agreement, Hudaydah still most dangerous place in Yemen for civilians: Agencies
A quarter of all civilian casualties across Yemen in 2019 were recorded in Hudaydah governorate. Despite a ceasefire in the port city being at the heart of last year’s Stockholm Agreement, Hudaydah has seen 799 civilian deaths and injuries since the Agreement was signed, the highest toll countrywide. Families continue to flee for their lives…
Read MoreClimate fuelled disasters number one driver of internal displacement globally forcing more than 20 million people a year from their homes
Climate fuelled disasters were the number one driver of internal displacement over the last decade, forcing more than 20 million people a year – one person every two seconds – to leave their homes, said Oxfam today. The contentious issue of financial support for communities, including displaced communities, which have suffered loss and damage as…
Read MoreTidal surge risk as Cyclone Bulbul nears India and Bangladesh – Oxfam prepares to respond
Oxfam spokespeople available for interview via phone or Skype in India and Bangladesh, including Cox’s Bazar Rohingya refugee camps Oxfam is preparing for a potential response to flooding and landslides as Cyclone Bulbul nears the coasts of India and Bangladesh. The powerful storm forming over the Bay of Bengal is currently expected to make landfall…
Read MoreSouth Sudan floods: 800,000 people desperately need food, water and shelter
Approximately 800,000 people are at risk of disease and extreme hunger as a result of devastating floods that have hit South Sudan, Oxfam warned today. Unusually heavy rainfall has hit 29 counties across the country, causing widespread displacement. Areas where Oxfam operates, including Akobo, Pibor and Lankien, have been severely hit. Houses have been destroyed…
Read MoreGreen Climate Fund short-changed by rich polluting countries
Rich polluting countries such as Australia, Canada, the Netherlands and the US are short-changing poor countries by billions of dollars that they need to cut emissions and adapt to the climate crisis, says Oxfam. The two-day pledging conference to the Green Climate Fund begins in Paris today. To date, developed countries have pledged $7.5 billion…
Read More15 million Yemenis see water supplies cut amid fuel crisis
15 million people in Yemen have had their water supplies severely cut, putting them at risk of deadly diseases like cholera because of a fuel crisis, analysis by aid agencies, including Oxfam, has shown. 11 million people relying on water supplied by piped networks and four million people, who depend on water trucked in by…
Read MorePoorest people get less than one cent per day to protect themselves from impacts of climate crisis
Leaders must heed climate strikes and give vulnerable people the tools to survive People living in the poorest countries receive around $3 per year – less than one cent per day – to protect themselves from the devastating impacts of the climate crisis, Oxfam estimates in a new report today ahead of the Climate Action…
Read More6 months after Cyclone Idai: farmers are fainting in fields because of hunger
Six months on from the devastation wreaked by Cyclone Idai in which more than 1,000 people were killed in Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe, hunger is escalating as the United Nation’s humanitarian response in Mozambique is less than half funded, warned Oxfam. Only 45 per cent of Mozambique’s humanitarian appeal has been funded, while the number…
Read MoreOxfam Canada launches new program to promote the rights of women domestic workers in Bangladesh
(Ottawa) Thanks to a contribution of $11.9 million from the Government of Canada, more than 16,000 women domestic workers in Dhaka, Bangladesh will be better empowered and organized to claim their right to decent work, and to access employment that is free from violence. Local women’s rights organizations (WROs) and civil society organizations (CSOs) will…
Read MoreSouth Sudan displacement crisis still desperate, one year after peace deal
One year on from the signing of the peace agreement, millions of South Sudanese remain displaced as the country continues to face a humanitarian crisis and people fear that peace may not last, according to a new report published today. Women, who lead the vast majority of displaced households, may be especially vulnerable, including facing…
Read MoreOxfam G7 Verdict: Big Issues, Little Commitments
President Macron put inequality at the top of the agenda, but G7 leaders failed to make meaningful commitments to solve the crisis they have helped create, said Oxfam at the end of the Summit today. “Held in the beach town of Biarritz, France, the G7 Summit brought very few results, which will wash away with…
Read MoreRohingya people still trapped two years on from exodus: Oxfam
Rohingya people in Myanmar and Bangladesh say they feel trapped and that their lives are on hold two years on from a campaign of violence that forced hundreds of thousands to flee. Despite global attention and a huge humanitarian effort, more than a million Rohingya are being denied their basic human rights with no resolution…
Read MoreOxfam primed to capitalize on official recommendations to make deeper safeguarding improvements
Oxfam is well placed to expand upon the improvements it is making to its safeguarding systems and working culture, says new International Associate Director of Safeguarding, Victoria McDonough. Oxfam today publishes the fifth quarterly report of its February 2018 Ten-Point Plan in response to the Haiti sexual misconduct scandal. “Oxfam has made solid improvements over…
Read MoreG7 Fuelling Inequality at Home and Around the World: Oxfam
(Ottawa) – As G7 leaders head to Biarritz, France, and President Macron promises to make the fight against inequality a priority at this year’s Summit, Oxfam says that the G7 are actively fuelling inequality at home and across the globe. Under President Macron’s leadership, this year’s G7 threatens to be full of hypocrisy and empty…
Read MoreNearly 1,000 child casualties of Yemen war in year since shocking Sa’adabus attack
Number killed directly by fighting is equivalent to eight more bus loads More than 300 children have died in fighting across Yemen in the year since an airstrike hit a bus in Sa’ada killing 41 school children and almost 600 have been injured, as international arms sales continue to fuel the conflict. 335 children have…
Read MoreMillions in DRC face lethal mix of virus, violence, and inadequate healthcare: Oxfam
Second Ebola case in Goma shows potential for virus to spiral out of control A year after the current Ebola outbreak was declared in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Oxfam said the virus, violent conflict and inadequate healthcare are creating a lethal mix. While some progress has been made to contain Ebola, which has…
Read MoreInternational complacency puts lives at risk as drought hits Horn of Africa: Oxfam
More than 15 million people are in need of aid as drought hits parts of Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia again. Yet lessons from the devastating droughts of 2011 and 2017 are being ignored, putting lives at risk, warned Oxfam today. Consecutive poor rains have destroyed crops and the means to earn a living, and eroded…
Read MoreDeadly floods continue to torment millions in Nepal, India and Bangladesh; Oxfam responds
Deadly floods and landslides have already killed 300 people and forced over 12 million more from their homes, as the disaster continues to rip through South Asia. During the past few days, India, Nepal and Bangladesh have experienced some of the worst floods in years threatening millions more people. Oxfam says the situation is likely…
Read MoreOxfam Canada receives federal funding to promote the economic empowerment of Indigenous women and youth in Northern Guatemala
(Ottawa) – Thanks to a contribution of $7 million from the Government of Canada, more than six thousand Indigenous women and youth in Alta Verapaz, Guatemala will improve their economic independence, through enhanced access and control of economic resources, and enhanced participation and leadership in decision-making related to local economic development. Over a five-year period,…
Read MoreOxfam Canada receives federal funding to strengthen women’s rights organizations in Pakistan
(Ottawa) – Thanks to a contribution of $8 million from the Government of Canada, women’s rights organizations throughout Pakistan will have increased access to resources and support for their work to advance gender equality and women’s rights. Over a five-year period, the Oxfam Canada Women’s Voice and Leadership (WVL) Pakistan project will partner with a…
Read MoreOxfam Canada Executive Director Julie Delahanty Announces Departure
Oxfam Canada’s Executive Director Julie Delahanty announced today that she is stepping down to pursue new challenges and allow for new leadership to emerge. “I have the best job in the world, so obviously making the decision wasn’t easy,” said Delahanty. “During my time at Oxfam, I’ve met so many women, men and children whose…
Read MoreCanada’s new guidelines to support human rights defenders a step in the right direction
With human rights defenders increasingly under attack around the world, civil society organizations today welcomed the Government of Canada’s new guidelines aimed at strengthening its approach to ensuring the safety and security of these courageous activists as part of its feminist foreign policy. Human rights defenders are often criminalized, targeted with smear campaigns, discredited, threatened, arbitrarily arrested,…
Read MoreOxfam Canada welcomes final report of Independent Commission
(Ottawa) – Oxfam Canada welcomes and accepts the findings and recommendations of the final report of the Independent Commission on Safeguarding, Accountability and Culture Change. The Commission was established by Oxfam in February 2018 as part of our 10-Point Action Plan. The Commission reviewed Oxfam’s reporting mechanisms and processes around safeguarding as well as looking…
Read MoreOxfam Canada welcomes Government of Canada’s new $700 million funding announcement on sexual and reproductive health and rights
(Vancouver) – Oxfam Canada enthusiastically welcomes the Government of Canada’s announcement today of $700 million per year in new funding to increase Canada’s global leadership on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), as part of a $1.4 billion commitment for global health. “This announcement could not come at a better time,” said Julie Delahanty,…
Read MoreOxfam Canada is proud to join the Equality Fund Collective, and welcomes the Government of Canada’s funding announcement
(Vancouver) – The Government of Canada announced today that it will provide $300 million in funding to the Equality Fund, a unique partnership to catalyze new investments in support of gender equality and women’s rights. Oxfam Canada is proud to be part of this ground breaking initiative that brings together partners with shared feminist values,…
Read MoreMozambique cyclone appeal allots less than 1% to needs of women and girls
Oxfam, Save the Children and Care are calling on donors to meet or exceed the proposed $5 million target to fund programs that support vulnerable women and girls ahead of a donor conference in Beira, Mozambique on May 31. The money is needed to help women and girls access education, health and other resources –…
Read MoreIt’s time for all federal parties to support an affordable public child care system in Canada, says national coalition
(Ottawa) – Child benefit payments worth $23.7 billion are given to almost 3.7 million families across the country annually, and yet, Canada has some of the highest child care costs amongst its international peers, leaving families struggling to make ends meet. A new report by Oxfam Canada, ‘Who cares? Why Canada needs a public child…
Read MoreOxfam continues to make progress implementing stronger safeguarding policies and driving cultural change
Today Oxfam published its fourth quarterly progress report on its 10-Point Action Plan to strengthen Oxfam’s safeguarding policies and practices and transform its working culture. Oxfam continues to make progress implementing stronger safeguarding policies and driving culture change, with staff more aware and challenging of unacceptable behaviours as the organization continues deep and wide-ranging reforms.…
Read MoreG7 must commit to feminist aid agenda to tackle poverty and economic inequality, says Oxfam
G7 development aid must prioritize the needs of women and girls if they are to tackle poverty and economic inequality, said Oxfam today as G7 Ministers prepare for a meeting on gender equality in Paris on the 9th and 10th May. The G7 accounts for three quarters of total international development aid. “G7 leaders must…
Read MoreOxfam India responds as Cyclone Fani causes destruction in Odisha
Oxfam India’s humanitarian teams are assessing the damage caused by Cyclone Fani, the worst cyclone that India has witnessed in the last 20 years. Oxfam India have pre-positioned stocks ready to respond with clean water, hygiene kits, emergency food security and temporary shelter support. Pankaj Anand, director of programme and advocacy for Oxfam India said…
Read MoreEastern DRC: Tens of thousands forcibly displaced by surge in violence Humanitarian organizations call for urgent assistance
Urgent action is needed to help tens of thousands of people forced to flee their homes following armed attacks in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, 18 humanitarian organizations warned today. These people are trapped between the border of Uganda and an area of DRC that is being terrorized by armed groups and close to the…
Read MoreCyclone Kenneth – extreme weather pummels Mozambique again, putting thousands more lives in danger, Oxfam is there
Oxfam and international and local partners are planning to help people in Mozambique hit by a second devastating cyclone in less than six weeks. Oxfam is part of the COSACA consortium with Save the Children and Care now assessing people’s needs and preparing to distribute mosquito nets, food and hygiene kits. Cyclone Kenneth brought torrential…
Read MoreOxfam Canada partners with Hot Docs to present powerful films on gender equality and human rights
(Ottawa) – Oxfam Canada is proud to partner with Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival again this year to showcase inspiring stories of women standing up and speaking out on gender equality and human rights in Canada and around the world. This is the third year Oxfam Canada is partnering with Hot Docs – North…
Read MoreMajor spike in cholera likely as agencies struggle to reach infected people
Fears that the world’s worst cholera outbreak could be set for a massive resurgence are growing as aid agencies in Yemen are struggling to reach almost 40,000 people suspected to have the disease, Oxfam warned today. Fighting and restraints on access – including checkpoints and permit requirements imposed by the warring parties – are making…
Read MoreJoint Humanitarian Civil Society Statement On Canada’s Policy for Gender Equality in Humanitarian Action
As Canadian humanitarian agencies working to save lives, uphold human rights, and empower people, particularly women and girls, in crises, we have closely followed and participated in the development and implementation of Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy (FIAP). We commented during the 2016 International Assistance Review, and we welcomed the release of the FIAP, which…
Read MoreCyclone Idai one month on: thousands in Mozambique still cut off from any help and struggling to survive
“Like a war zone” says Oxfam; destruction and suffering still not fully mapped Despite initial appeals, international aid effort still grossly underfunded Aid agencies already stretched and running out of resources One month on from devastating Cyclone Idai, Oxfam and its local partner organisations in Mozambique are still finding thousands of isolated people cut off…
Read MoreAn Ombudsperson without powers of investigation is no solution
Today, the Government of Canada appointed the first Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise, Ms. Sheri Meyerhoffer. Oxfam Canada has been advocating for the creation of such a position for several years. We are concerned, however, that the new Ombudsperson position has not been equipped with the independence or adequate powers of investigation to address Canada’s…
Read MoreCyclone Idai: Survivors face a new disaster as cholera spreads; number of cases now over 1,000
International aid agency Oxfam says the Mozambique government is acting quickly to set up cholera treatment centres in the devastated city of Beira, but the international community must offer more cash in support – the $281 million UN appeal is only 17 per cent funded so far. The threat of a cholera epidemic is high.…
Read MoreOxfam Canada welcomes Government of Canada’s response to Cyclone Idai, hopes Canadians will join to double the impact of their donations
(Ottawa) – Oxfam Canada, along with the members of the Humanitarian Coalition, welcomes the Government of Canada’s decision today to match donations by Canadians in response to the devastation caused by Cyclone Idai in Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. As a result of the government’s announcement, all donations made to the Humanitarian Coalition and its member…
Read MoreCyclone Idai: Oxfam calls for a massive effort to prevent and contain cholera in Beira
In response to news reports that the number of cases of cholera in the cyclone devastated city of Beira has risen to 139, Oxfam calls for a well-coordinated effort to prevent and contain cholera and other waterborne diseases. Oxfam cannot confirm the reported cases. Dorothy Sang, Oxfam’s Humanitarian Advocacy Manager in Beira, said: “Cholera is…
Read MoreThe Humanitarian Coalition delivers aid to survivors of Cyclone Idai
(Ottawa) As the scope of the devastation brought on by Cyclone Idai continues to unfold in Southern Africa, Canadian aid agencies are working together to rush emergency assistance to survivors. Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe have been hit by what may be the worst ever disaster to strike the southern hemisphere, according to the UN. Vast…
Read MoreOxfam distributing emergency aid to Cyclone Idai survivors in Malawi and Mozambique
Oxfam has distributed emergency supplies to survivors of Cyclone Idai in Nsanje district, one of the worst hit areas in the southern tip of Malawi, and in camps in Buzi near the city of Beira in Mozambique today. In Mozambique, 470 family kits were distributed through Oxfam’s partner organization, AJOAGO, in displacement camps in Estaquinha…
Read MoreFour years of bombings and deaths in Yemen
(Ottawa) Four years have passed since the beginning of a bloody war in Yemen. The war has plunged the country into what the UN calls ‘the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.’ On the eve of this tragic anniversary, Oxfam is mobilizing Canadians to call on the government to finally cancel its arms deal with one of…
Read MoreSurvivors of Cylone Idai at risk from waterborne diseases: Oxfam
Oxfam will begin distributing lifesaving aid including water purification tablets and hygiene kits to some of the communities worst affected by Cyclone Idai over this weekend. Hundreds of thousands of survivors in Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe are in danger from waterborne diseases such as cholera and diarrhea. Cyclone Idai had caused extensive damage to water…
Read MoreOxfam sends message of support and solidarity to the people affected by deadly cyclone Idai in Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi
As Oxfam leaders from across the world, attending our annual board meetings in Kenya, we send our solidarity to the people of Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Malawi whose lives have been devastated by cyclone Idai. Our hearts go out to the families of those who have perished, and the more than 2.6 million people who have been…
Read MoreOxfams appeals for aid as thousands of lives are still at risk after Cyclone Idai
Oxfam’s initial aims are to reach up to 500,000 people – hopefully more – including in partnership with other international and local NGO partners, to help people hit by Cyclone Idai. Oxfam today began appealing for money to help them. The number of casualties and affected people are set to rise from the two million…
Read MoreBudget 2019 delivers historic investment in women’s rights organizations, but fails to invest in accessible and affordable child care
Today the federal government released its last budget before the elections in the fall. It is the first budget since the Canadian Gender Budgeting Act came into force, which requires all budget initiatives to include a gender-based analysis. This is a ground-breaking step to ensure the budget is more inclusive of people in all their…
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