Myanmar: 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…
Read MoreThree civilians killed every day in Yemen despite Stockholm agreements
(Ottawa) Three civilians are being killed every day in Yemen – that’s one person every eight hours – despite agreements reached between the internationally recognized government and the Houthis at talks in Sweden just over three months ago. In December last year the two parties agreed a ceasefire for the key port of Hudaydah and…
Read MoreCyclone Idai leaves trail of death, destruction and homelessness in southern Africa, affected countries appeal for urgent aid
Oxfam will be responding with water, sanitation services, food and other non-food items to people affected by Cyclone Idai that hit Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe on March 14-15. Scores of people have been killed, several hundred more are still missing and almost a million have been left destitute and in need of aid and basic…
Read MoreOxfam condemns New Zealand terror attack and sends message of support and solidarity
The leaders of Oxfam’s agencies worldwide are meeting in Kenya this week and we send a message of strength and solidarity to the people of New Zealand as they respond to the appalling act of extremism against the Kiwi Muslim community, where at least 50 people were shot dead by a white supremacist terrorist, in…
Read MoreBrussels Syria conference: Donors must support without reservation or restriction
As the international community came together for the 7th consecutive year to commit to helping Syrians inside their country, as well as refugees and their hosts, Oxfam called today for a sustained follow-up to ensure political and funding support translates into meaningful improvements for all Syrians. The war is not over: the dozens of people…
Read MoreOxfam and allies blast the EU-Turkey deal on its third anniversary
The European Union’s deal with Turkey to control migration and return “irregular” migrants has led to policies and practices in Greece that are short-sighted, unsustainable, ineffective and dangerous, say Oxfam and 24 other NGOs ahead of the deal’s third anniversary. In an open letter to European leaders, Oxfam and other NGOs say that as many as…
Read MoreBrussels Syria conference: Syrians don’t need handouts, they need to rebuild their lives
Oxfam and the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) today called on governments and other donors to provide more funding to help Syrians recover from eight years of conflict and rebuild their lives. The international agencies also called on the Government of Syria to allow humanitarian organizations access to all those in need of help throughout the…
Read MoreWins for women at home and abroad, but issues like decent work and child care still need to be pushed over the finish line: Oxfam
(Ottawa) Over the past year, the federal government’s bold feminist words have translated into significant policies and strategies to advance gender equality at home and abroad, but new initiatives often lacked the budgets required to achieve a long-lasting impact, according to a new report from Oxfam Canada. In the lead up to International Women’s Day,…
Read MoreCanadian aid organizations applaud Canada for significant funding for Yemen crisis, call for an end to military assistance to parties to the conflict
In response to Canada’s commitment of funding at the third High-Level Pledging Event for the Humanitarian Crisis in Yemen, the CEOs of Save the Children Canada, Oxfam Canada, Oxfam Quebec and CARE Canada, today released the following joint statement: Today, governments took a welcome step to alleviate the suffering of millions of people who are…
Read MoreYemeni crisis forces parents to marry off three-year-old child in desperate attempt to keep family alive
Conflict, rising food prices and plummeting incomes in Yemen are forcing people to resort to desperate measures to stave off hunger, Oxfam said today. The warning comes as rich countries meet in Geneva to pledge aid for the humanitarian crisis in Yemen which has left almost 10 million people one step away from famine. Since…
Read MoreConflict, poverty and hunger driving child marriage in South Sudan: Oxfam
Another generation of girls in South Sudan will miss out on an education, face huge health risks in childbirth and are more likely to face sexual and domestic violence, if efforts to end child marriage are not stepped up, warned international agency Oxfam in a new report published today. In Nyal, in the north of…
Read MoreGlobal sexual and reproductive health and rights leaders call for continued Canadian leadership
Statement: Global sexual and reproductive health and rights leaders call for continued Canadian leadership Attn: The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, M.P., Prime Minister of Canada The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau. M.P., Minister of International Development Ms. Kamal Khera, M.P., Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Development The Honourable Bill Morneau, M.P., Minister of Finance The…
Read MoreBillionaires’ fortunes grew by $3.3 billion a day last year as poorest half of humanity saw their wealth fall, says Oxfam
(Ottawa) The fortunes of the world’s billionaires grew by 12 per cent – or $3.3 billion a day – last year, while the 3.8 billion people who make up the poorest half of humanity saw their wealth fall, according to a new Oxfam report. ‘Public Good or Private Wealth’ is being released as four members…
Read MoreOxfam Canada welcomes interim report of Independent Commission on safeguarding
Oxfam proactively set up the Independent Commission as part of the 10-Point Action Plan to strengthen Oxfam’s policies and practices on safeguarding and to transform our organizational culture. Oxfam Canada welcomes the release of the interim report by the Independent Commission on Sexual Misconduct, Accountability and Culture Change. Oxfam proactively set up the Independent Commission…
Read MoreOxfam provides water and sanitation to those hit by Indonesia Tsunami
Oxfam will work with the Government of Indonesia to provide clean water and hygiene facilities to people affected by the tsunami that hit Indonesia’s Sunda Strait. The latest reports put the death toll at 373 with 128 reported missing, over 1,500 injured and more than 11,000 displaced from their homes. These numbers could grow worse…
Read MoreOxfam ready to respond as dozens killed after tsunami in Indonesia’s Sunda Strait
Coastal communities in small islands in the Sundra Strait are believed to be among the worst hit from the tsunami. Oxfam is getting ready to respond to tsunami-affected communities in Indonesia’s Sunda Strait, with reports that more than 43 people have died and hundreds more injured following a tsunami that struck islands in the Strait…
Read MoreHalf a million homeless Yemenis on brink of famine face winter freeze – Oxfam
People forced to flee their homes are set for a winter struggle to survive in areas of the country which are one step away from famine and often without adequate shelter to protect them or fuel to keep them warm as temperatures plummet. More than half a million people who have fled fighting in Yemen…
Read MoreUrgent Action Needed to Ensure Indigenous Women Are Not Sterilized Without Their Consent
Sterilizing women without their free, full, and informed consent is a form of violence and torture. Across Canada and as recently as 2017, Indigenous women report being forcibly or coercively sterilized. Some women were incorrectly told the procedure is reversible. Others were separated from their babies until they consented to a tubal ligation. Forced and…
Read MoreOxfam Canada receives support from the Government of Canada to empower women and girls in East and Southern Africa
The Her Future, Her Choice: Strengthening Young Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights program will directly reach 250,000 women (including young women and girls), and 90,000 men and boys in Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia. Thanks to a generous contribution of $19.9 million from the Government of Canada, Oxfam Canada will launch a new program to…
Read More42 NGOs warn that return of refugees to Myanmar now would be dangerous and premature
The involuntary return of refugees from Bangladesh to Myanmar, where their lives and safety remain at grave risk, is a violation of the fundamental principle of non-refoulement. Humanitarian and civil society agencies working in Rakhine State in Myanmar and in the Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh are deeply concerned that the repatriation of refugees will…
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