Rise in hunger an appalling relapse

For the first time in more than a decade, the United Nations reported a sharp increase in hunger around the world. Reacting to the news, Oxfam International’s executive director Winnie Byanyima said: “This is a disgraceful failure of our international leaders and institutions. The ground we’ve painstakingly gained throughout the years can easily be lost;…

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One civilian dying every three hours in Yemen fighting

Emergency Response One civilian dying every three hours in Yemen fighting by alvaro | October 26, 2018 Replace this with image credit information Yemenis are facing the triple threat of war, disease and hunger.  One civilian has been killed every three hours in fighting in Yemen since the beginning of August, with many more people…

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Oxfam supports migrant caravan stranded in Guatemala with humanitarian aid

Oxfam supports migrant caravan stranded in Guatemala with humanitarian aid by alvaro | October 24, 2018 Replace this with image credit information In response to this humanitarian crisis, Oxfam with its local partners is distributing 3,500 personal hygiene kits and will install 60 latrines, showers and provide access to drinking water. At least 2,500 migrants,…

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Global Index reveals governments split between fighting and fueling inequality

Global Index reveals governments split between fighting and fueling inequality by alvaro | October 9, 2018 Replace this with image credit information The Index comes ahead this week’s meeting of finance ministers, central bank governors, and other economic leaders at the World Bank and International Monetary Fund Annual Meeting in Bali, Indonesia. Nigeria, Singapore, and…

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Tsunami survivors face long queues for clean water: Oxfam

Tsunami survivors face long queues for clean water: Oxfam by alvaro | October 9, 2018 Replace this with image credit information Water pipes were damaged in the 7.5-magnitude earthquake that struck on 28 September, and the city has become dependent on a fleet of water trucks that are under huge strain to meet demand. The…

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Oxfam treatment units on way to Palu with clean water in short supply

Oxfam treatment units on way to Palu with clean water in short supply by alvaro | October 4, 2018 Replace this with image credit information Water remains the main issue, with most supply infrastructure, such as pipes, damaged in the earthquake Oxfam water treatment units and purification kits are en route to Palu, Sulawesi, with…

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Oxfam scales up response to deadly Indonesia earthquake and tsunami

Oxfam scales up response to deadly Indonesia earthquake and tsunami by alvaro | October 1, 2018 Replace this with image credit information At least 840 people were killed and hundreds of houses and buildings collapsed have collapsed following the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Sulawesi. Oxfam and partner organisations are scaling up their response to support…

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Oxfam and partners assessing damage after earthquake and tsunami in Indonesia

Palu Tsunami, Indonesia

Oxfam and partners assessing damage after earthquake and tsunami in Indonesia by alvaro | September 29, 2018 Replace this with image credit information Tsunami Palu hits Indonesia A massive earthquake and tsunami hit coastal towns in the country’s central island of Sulawesi on Friday. Oxfam and its local partners in Indonesia are assessing damage after…

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Women Foreign Ministers’ Meeting a First in Two Ways

Women Foreign Ministers’ Meeting a First in Two Ways by alvaro | September 26, 2018 Replace this with image credit information Feminist activists share issues and priorities with the first-ever meeting of Women Foreign Ministers. A coalition of Canadian civil society organizations welcome the successful conclusion of a fruitful exchange between participants in the first-ever…

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International Women’s Rights Coalition Calls on Montreal Summit of Women Foreign Ministers to Champion Women Human Rights Defenders at UN General Assembly

International Women’s Rights Coalition Calls on Montreal Summit of Women Foreign Ministers to Champion Women Human Rights Defenders at UN General Assembly by alvaro | September 20, 2018 Replace this with image credit information In spite of the global risks faced by women human rights defenders, the coalition emphasizes the critical role they continue to…

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Announcing a sector-wide pledge on preventing and addressing sexual misconduct

Announcing a sector-wide pledge on preventing and addressing sexual misconduct by alvaro | September 19, 2018 Replace this with image credit information Oxfam Canada joins the Canadian Council for International Development Canada’s independent national voice for international development and humanitarian organizations, in announcing a sector-wide pledge on preventing and addressing sexual misconduct. While standards and legal…

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Oxfam and partners deliver clean water to isolated communities hit by Mangkhut

Oxfam and partners deliver clean water to isolated communities hit by Mangkhut by alvaro | September 18, 2018 Replace this with image credit information This immediate response is informed by rapid assessments made by Oxfam and local partners that clean water and shelter are the urgent priorities for communities directly affected by the typhoon. Four…

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Oxfam, CDRC prioritize safe water and shelter materials in distribution efforts

Oxfam, CDRC prioritize safe water and shelter materials in distribution efforts by alvaro | September 16, 2018 Replace this with image credit information Thousands of evacuees are currently staying inside churches and schools and do not have access to food, safe water, and sanitation.  Tuguegerao City, 1:05 PM (PH Time) – Oxfam responder, April Bulanadi, updates…

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Ompong’s “destructive force”– disaster preparedness committees activated

Destruction caused by Typhoon Mangkhut. (Ompong) in the Philippines.

Ompong’s “destructive force”– disaster preparedness committees activated by alvaro | September 14, 2018 Replace this with image credit information Photo: Oxfam Philippines After Ompong Landfall Tuguegerao City. Ompong is the 15th storm to hit the Philippines this year and, so far, the strongest for 2018.  Tuguegerao City, 6:49AM – The joint assessment teams of Oxfam…

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Oxfam closely monitoring Super Typhoon Mangkhut bearing down on Philippines

Oxfam closely monitoring Super Typhoon Mangkhut bearing down on Philippines by alvaro | September 13, 2018 Replace this with image credit information Known locally as Ompong, the super typhoon is predicted to make landfall in north of the main island of Luzon on Saturday morning and is packing devastating winds gusts up to 250 km/h.…

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Fate of millions in Idlib in international hands as disaster looms: Oxfam

Fate of millions in Idlib in international hands as disaster looms: Oxfam by alvaro | September 6, 2018 Replace this with image credit information Oxfam is calling on the entire international community to urgently work together to prevent a new humanitarian catastrophe, which the UN estimates could displace 800,000 people. Two top level international meetings…

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Fresh quakes in Lombok cause mass panic and worsens need for urgent aid

Fresh quakes in Lombok cause mass panic and worsens need for urgent aid by alvaro | August 22, 2018 Replace this with image credit information On Tuesday at least a dozen shocks of 5-Richter magnitude have followed on the heels of Sunday’s big quakes of 6.3 and 6.9 in East Lombok.  Strong earthquakes and aftershocks…

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Oxfam training 119 staff to become investigators and invests over $3M as part of package to strengthen safeguarding worldwide

Oxfam has held initial training courses for 119 staff to become new safeguarding investigators as part of its “Ten-Point Action Plan” launched in February. Independent Commission appointed and Safeguarding review on track Initial training for 119 staff to become new safeguarding investigators More than $3M investment in safeguarding across Oxfam globally Staff reference systems introduced…

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Oxfam reaction to announcement on end of Ebola in DRC

Oxfam reaction to announcement on end of Ebola in DRC by alvaro | July 25, 2018 Replace this with image credit information The latest Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has officially ended. In response to the announcement on Tuesday, that the latest Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has officially…

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Ontario Superior Court’s decision on charities and political activities a win for the charitable sector and democracy, says Oxfam Canada

Ontario Superior Court’s decision on charities and political activities a win for the charitable sector and democracy, says Oxfam Canada by alvaro | July 20, 2018 Replace this with image credit information This is an important step for Canadian charities, enabling them to regain their constitutional right to freedom of expression and engage actively in…

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OXFAM: Thousands of Syrians out of reach of aid

OXFAM: Thousands of Syrians out of reach of aid by alvaro | July 16, 2018 Replace this with image credit information Amid scorching summer temperatures, thousands of Syrians have been forced from their homes due to the recent fighting in Dar’a Thousands of Syrians forced from their homes due to the recent fighting in Dar’a…

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OXFAM: Hodeidah cannot be allowed to become a graveyard

Yemen fighting near Hudaydah port threatens to cut lifeline to millions. Photo Credit: Ahmed Alfadeel

Conditions for over half a million people in Yemen’s port city of Hodeidah are steadily deteriorating with food in short supply and seriously damaged water and sewage systems increasing the risk of cholera, Oxfam said today. More than 80,000 people have fled their homes, despite a recent reduction in the intensity of the fighting, while…

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Rohingya refugees unprepared as monsoon rains, flooding and landslides continue

The monsoon rains falling on the Rohingya refugee camps near Cox’s Bazar, southern Bangladesh, have caused over 130 landslides, damaged 3,300 shelters and affected 28,000 refugees, Oxfam said. A survey of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh carried out by Oxfam before the start of the monsoon season found that more than half were almost completely unprepared…

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Oxfam provides desperately needed food in DR Congo’s Ebola outbreak

Oxfam has started to provide desperately needed food to thousands of people caught up in the Ebola outbreak in Equateur province. Oxfam is distributing rice, beans and flour, to about 4,525 people. It has already started in Mbandaka – the provincial capital – and plans to extend to rural communities. This is in addition providing…

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Hodeida offensive must be stopped to save lives and the chance for peace

The UN and NGOs received warnings over the weekend for staff to evacuate Hodeida by Tuesday ahead of the offensive, affirming the humanitarian community’s worst fears for Yemen. The UN peace envoy for Yemen Martin Griffiths has already said that this attack would “take peace off the table in a single stroke,” and the UN…

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G7 must make the economy work for women

The Group of Seven leaders must agree on concrete steps to combat women’s economic inequality and make the economy work for women, said Oxfam on the eve of the summit in Quebec, Canada. “Our global economy is generating extreme wealth on the backs of the poorest women—women who sew our clothes, grow our food and…

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Yemen fighting near Hodeidah port threatens to cut lifeline to millions

Escalation of fighting around Yemen’s port city of Hodeidah threatens to cut off essential supplies to millions of people who are already one step away from famine, Oxfam warned today.  The fighting has already forced hundreds of families to flee their homes.  Oxfam’s Country Director in Yemen, Muhsin Siddiquey said: “Yemen is already the world’s…

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Canada provides assistance after two cyclones wreak havoc on Fiji islands

Canada is providing assistance to the Fiji islands after two cyclones struck in one week in April 2018 and forced more than 14,000 people to seek shelter in evacuation centres. At least eight people died during the two storms, Cyclone Josie (Category 1) and Cyclone Keni (Category 3), which caused extensive flooding, numerous landslides and…

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Urgent action needed to prevent famine in South Sudan – Oxfam

Oxfam today called for urgent action to prevent millions of people being hit by famine in South Sudan. The warning follows a report last week from the Famine Early Warning Network (FEWSNET) which said that a fifth of households in Pibor could already be classed as hitting famine levels of hunger. Four years of conflict…

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Worse to come as first rains cause damage in Rohingya camps in Bangladesh

Damage and fear caused by the first rains of the monsoon season in the Rohingya refugee camps are an ominous warning of what is to come Oxfam said today. Oxfam’s Rohingya Response Advocacy Manager Dorothy Sang said the worst is still to come when the monsoon seasons hits Bangladesh with full ferocity from late May to…

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Oxfam reaction to Syria air strikes

In response to the U.S., French and British air strikes on Syria, Moutaz Adham, Country Director, Oxfam in Syria said: “While chemical attacks should be effectively deterred, choosing to use military force to do so risks escalating the crisis, putting civilians, who have already suffered so much, at even greater risk. “World leaders must work…

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Oxfam announces Zainab Bangura and Katherine Sierra to co-lead Independent Commission on Sexual Misconduct

Zainab Bangura, a former Under-Secretary General of the United Nations,and Katherine Sierra, a former Vice-President of the World Bank, will co-chair an Independent Commission on Sexual Misconduct, Accountability and Culture Change, Oxfam said today. The Independent Commission has been formed in response to incidents of sexual misconduct by Oxfam staff in countries including Chad and…

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Oxfam releases report into allegations of sexual misconduct in Haiti

A full copy of Oxfam’s final internal report into allegations of sexual misconduct and other unacceptable behaviour during Oxfam’s humanitarian response to the 2010 Haiti earthquake has been made public today. Oxfam is publishing the report, written in 2011, in order to be as transparent as possible about the decisions made during the investigation and in recognition of…

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Oxfam asks women’s rights leaders to carry out urgent independent review

An independent commission will be set up with immediate power to carry out a wide-ranging review of Oxfam’s practices and culture, including its handling of past cases of sexual misconduct. It comes as Oxfam announces a comprehensive plan of action to strengthen safeguarding systems across the organization, and stamp out abuse. Oxfam International Executive Director Winnie Byanyima…

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Oxfam Canada Statement on Sexual Misconduct in Haiti in 2011

In 2011, several Oxfam UK staff were accused of sexual exploitation and abuse in Haiti during the earthquake response. Their behavior was totally unacceptable – an appalling mark against the high values we set for ourselves at Oxfam. At the time, Oxfam Great Britain operated separately from Oxfam Canada. As far as we know, no…

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Oxfam Canada welcomes new ombudsperson to address human rights impacts of Canadian business abroad

(OTTAWA) Oxfam Canada welcomes news that the federal government is creating the office of Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise.  For years, human rights advocates, including Oxfam, have called on Canada to hold companies accountable for their actions abroad.  Today, the government heeded these calls and committed to appoint an ombudsperson with powers to investigate allegations…

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INGO Joint Statement on the complete opening of Hudaydah Port

Seventeen aid agencies working in Yemen are urging for the complete and unconditional opening of Hudaydah port to allow for the uninterrupted flow of food and fuel. A thirty-day concession period enabling the delivery of commercial supplies has brought only brief reprieve within the context of a sustained blockade on Yemen’s Red Sea Ports. Parties…

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Yemen being pushed ever closer to famine

Yemen is being pushed ever closer to famine after 1,000 days of a brutal war, exacerbated by a crippling blockade of its key northern ports which is starving its people of food, fuel and medicine, Oxfam warned today. Some 90 per cent of Yemen’s food has to be imported. Since a Saudi-led coalition imposed a…

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Rohingya refugees say no return to Myanmar without equal rights

(Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh) Rohingya refugees interviewed by Oxfam in Bangladesh say they will not go back to Myanmar until their safety can be guaranteed and they have equal rights, including being able to work and travel freely. Women in particular were deeply traumatized by their experiences – including rape and seeing loved ones killed –…

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JOINT STATEMENT: Immediate Ceasefire Needed – Yemeni Civilians Cannot Take Any More Suffering

International humanitarian agencies in Yemen are urgently calling on all warring parties for an immediate ceasefire in Sana’a. Escalating clashes between forces aligned with former President Ali Abdullah Saleh and the Houthis are trapping civilian populations across Yemen’s governorates and exacerbating an already catastrophic humanitarian situation. The Yemeni population simply cannot take any more blows. …

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Oxfam Canada receives federal funding to empower women and girls in Philippines

(Ottawa) Thanks to a contribution of $17.5 million from the Government of Canada, Oxfam Canada will empower women and girls in six disadvantaged and conflict-affected regions of the Philippines with gender-sensitive sexual and reproductive health and rights services. The Sexual Health and Empowerment (SHE) Women’s Voice and Leadership project will reach approximately 300,000 people over…

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Humanitarian agencies condemn the closure of Yemen’s air, sea and land ports

Oxfam and 17 other humanitarian agencies expressed serious concern today over the Saudi Arabia-led coalition’s decision to temporarily close all entry points to Yemen, effectively sealing the country off. The agencies demand that humanitarian operations be allowed to resume immediately, and request clarity on the planned duration of the current closure and contingencies to allow…

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Oxfam Canada welcomes federal Crisis Relief Fund for Rohingya refugees

(Ottawa) Oxfam Canada welcomes the Government of Canada’s announcement that for every eligible donation made by individuals to registered Canadian charities until November 28, 2017, it will contribute an equivalent amount to the Myanmar Crisis Relief Fund. That means every dollar will have double the impact. “Canada’s leadership comes at a critical time, with the concentration…

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More funds needed to help Rohingya women who have fled rape and violence

There are now more than 120,000 pregnant women and mothers with new babies struggling to survive in cramped camps and settlements that are ill-equipped to deal with their needs. Among them are many pregnant teenagers and victims of rape. According to Cox’s Bazar Civil Surgeon’s office, 50 infants are born daily into dire conditions in…

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Yemen cholera outbreak now the world’s largest on record

Yemen’s five-month old cholera crisis is now the world’s largest outbreak since records began, Oxfam said today, as the number of suspected cases rose to over 755,000. The Yemen outbreak has overtaken the 754,373 suspected cases recorded in Haiti in the six years between 2010 and 2015. More than 2,100 people have already died from…

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Mexico earthquake: Oxfam sends in assessment teams to two worst hit areas

Oxfam is sending in two teams of humanitarian experts to Morelos and Puebla, with more on the way, following the 7.1 earthquake that struck central Mexico on September 19th. This is the second earthquake to strike Mexico in less than two weeks. Over 200 people have died and hundreds are injured. Many remain trapped under…

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Still no real progress one year after landmark UN refugee pledge

The Declaration, first adopted last September, reaffirmed the responsibility of all nations to refugees, and laid out a two-year timeline for countries to develop and agree on a “global compact” that would make these commitments a reality.  But 12 months later, there has been no improvement in refugee crises globally. There has been little sign…

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Oxfam providing life-saving help to over 200,000 Rohingya in Bangladesh

Nearly 370,000 people crossed into Bangladesh in the past four weeks, doubling the number seeking refuge in the south east of the country. Many are now sleeping under open skies, by roadsides and in forests with no protection from the elements. The existing camps in Bangladesh are ill equipped to handle this large influx of…

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Hurricane Irma: Oxfam assists the poorest people hardest hit by disaster

In the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, Oxfam and its Caribbean partner organizations are helping the most vulnerable people who have lost their homes and livelihoods to recover from the disaster, including ensuring access to clean water and basic sanitation. Irma’s severe flooding and strong winds caused considerable damage to people’s homes, infrastructure and agricultural production.…

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Hurricane Irma: Oxfam collaborates with Cuban authorities to assess and mitigate damage

Oxfam has been working with the Cuban authorities to develop one of the most effective disaster prevention and response systems in the Caribbean. Oxfam’s risk management projects on the island strengthened early warning capacity, helping the most vulnerable residents and their communities to better prepare for Irma’s wrath. In response to Irma’s threat, Cuba’s National…

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Oxfam Responds to Urgent Needs of People Fleeing Conflict to Bangladesh

“Oxfam is deeply concerned about the plight of more than 160,000 civilians who have crossed the border into Bangladesh, and countless others caught up in the conflict in Rakhine State, Myanmar resulting in a large-scale humanitarian crisis.  Every day, thousands of people are taking the dangerous journey across the border, and due to access restrictions…

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Hurricane Irma: Oxfam assessing damage in Haiti and Dominican Republic

Hurricane Irma caused widespread damage in Haiti and Dominican Republic overnight. Oxfam teams will immediately asses the needs of the most vulnerable people in the hardest-hit areas, mainly in the north of both countries. “We believe the worst of the hurricane has passed and people here hope to have fortunately escaped the worst,” said Oxfam’s…

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Hurricane Irma: Oxfam in Haiti preparing for the worst

Many supermarket shelves in northern Haiti are now empty and many people in coastal areas are being evacuated inland to schools and public buildings in preparation for the worst of Hurricane Irma today and tomorrow. Oxfam’s Tania Escamilla is in Cap Haitien – Haiti’s second-largest city with a population of 280,000 – with Oxfam’s 27-person…

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Oxfam responds as 43 million hit by South Asia Floods

Some 1,200 people have died and 43 million people have been hit by the monsoon rains and heavy flooding in the South Asian nations of Bangladesh, India, and Nepal so far. Families have lost their homes and crops, and the number of casualties is likely to increase over the coming days. Oxfam is providing more…

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Oxfam Canada thanks Canadians for their generosity to help fight famine

With an estimated 55 million women, children and men struggling to find food and safe drinking water in one of the worst food security crises the world has ever seen, Oxfam Canada thanks Canadians for donating over one million dollars to the organization in the “Stop Famine Together” campaign. “Thanks to the generosity of the…

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Oxfam providing clean water and hygiene kits to survivors of Sierra Leone mud slide

The international agency initially plans to help almost 2,000 households amidst concerns that continued heavy rains, overcrowding and inadequate water and sanitation systems will leave people extremely vulnerable to outbreaks of cholera and other diseases. Daniel Byrne, part of the Oxfam team that visited the worst affected areas, said, “We saw mass destruction – people…

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Half a million suspected cholera cases in Yemen in just four months

In reaction to the announcement that more than 500,000 people are suspected of contracting cholera in Yemen, Katy Wright, Head of Advocacy, Oxfam said:  “Yemen’s catastrophic cholera crisis is rewriting the miserable history of this disease. Our common humanity tells us that this massive crisis demands a massive response.” “This is no accidental disaster, it…

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Oxfam Canada Statement on Canada’s first Feminist International Assistance Policy

On June 9, 2017, Minister of International Cooperation Marie-Claude Bibeau launched Canada’s first Feminist International Assistance Policy – the result of an internal review and consultations with more than 15,000 people in 65 countries that began in the spring of 2016. The new policy is ambitious, putting women’s rights and gender equality squarely at the…

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Oxfam brings aid to 23,000 people in India

Heavy, sustained rains across the northeastern states in India caused extensive damage and affected close to 400,000 people as the Brahmaputra River and its tributaries overflowed, causing widespread and devastating flooding. The rains triggered by cyclone Mora began in late June and continued into July. Communities already living below the poverty line in Assam province…

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Yemen cholera worst on record & numbers still rising

The number of people with cholera in Yemen is now the largest ever in any country in a single year since records began, Oxfam said today. At more than 360,000 suspected cholera cases in just three months since the outbreak started, it now tops the previous annual record of 340,311 in Haiti in 2011. Though…

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Oxfam celebrates 15 years working with Coldplay

The 2017 leg of Coldplay’s Head Full of Dreams tour – which arrives in Montreal on Tuesday, August 8 – marks 15 years of Oxfam working with the band. In that time, more than 60,000 Coldplay fans have signed up to support Oxfam campaigns to highlight unfair trade practices and the plight of refugees. Coldplay…

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