Mosul residents continue to face severe risks despite end of military offensive
In response to the Iraqi Security Forces’ announcement that they have retaken the city of Mosul from ISIS, Oxfam’s Country Director in Iraq, Andres Gonzalez said: “The retaking of Mosul will no doubt inspire hope among many Iraqis: hope that they can return home, rebuild their lives, and heal the divisions within their society. But these…
Read MoreSouth Sudan: famine pushed back but more people hungry than ever before
In response to the new IPC figures that show that famine has been pushed back in the two counties of Leer and Mayendit (which have now gone from being in famine to humanitarian crisis), Sara Almer, Oxfam South Sudan Country Director, says: “Thanks to aid efforts, famine has been pushed back in most of Leer and Mayendit,…
Read MoreYemen cholera killing one person nearly every hour
Yemen is in the grip of a runaway cholera epidemic that is killing one person nearly every hour and if not contained will threaten the lives of thousands of people in the coming months, Oxfam said today. The agency is calling for a massive aid effort and an immediate ceasefire to allow health and aid…
Read MoreOxfam Canada welcomes Government relief fund, hopes Canadians will join the fight against famine now to double the impact of their donations
Oxfam Canada welcomed the Government of Canada’s announcement today, that for every eligible donation made by individual Canadians to registered Canadian charities between March 17 and June 30, 2017, it will contribute an equivalent amount to the Famine Relief Fund to fight famine across 10 affected countries, including South Sudan where famine has already been…
Read MoreAs world faces unprecedented famine threat, G7 should pay up and push for peace
Deadly famine is already affecting 100,000 people in parts of South Sudan and threatens to extend to Yemen, Somalia and northeast Nigeria. Widespread famine across all four countries is not yet inevitable, but G7 leaders need to act now with a massive injection of aid, backed with a forceful diplomatic push to bring an end…
Read MoreUnifor donates $100,000 to Oxfam Canada South Sudan famine relief
TORONTO, CNW – Unifor is proud to partner with Oxfam Canada to help provide famine relief in South Sudan and other countries facing a food crisis in the region, with a $100,000 donation from the Unifor Social Justice Fund. “Roughly five million people are struggling to survive the hunger crisis in South Sudan and immediate…
Read MoreOxfam Canada Partners with Hot Docs to Present Powerful Films on Issues Facing Women and Girls
Oxfam Canada is proud to announce that it has partnered with Hot Docs Canadian Documentary Film Festival – North America’s largest documentary film festival – to present two powerful films on important issues facing women and girls, in Canada and around the world. The films include the world premiere of A Better Man – a…
Read MoreOxfam calls for greater G7 support for Syria peace talks
As G7 foreign ministers meeting in Lucca, Italy, failed to reach agreement on sanctions, Oxfam has called for a renewed push on Syria peace talks. Elisa Baccioti, Oxfam’s Campaigns Director attending the event in Lucca, said: “Now, more than ever, Oxfam urges a redoubling of efforts to find a lasting and peaceful solution to this conflict…
Read MoreOxfam condemns US defunding of UN agency focusing on reproductive health and rights of women and girls
Oxfam strongly condemns the decision by the US Government this week to withhold funding to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). The decision puts women’s lives at risk and will deny thousands of women their right to comprehensive healthcare. This decision is part of a pattern of action that seriously undermines the health and human rights…
Read MoreCanada not pulling its weight internationally
The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) published its annual review of development aid assistance today, ranking Canada as the 11th largest OECD-DAC donor, down from 9th in 2015 and 10th in 2014. In terms of ODA/GNI ratio, Canada now ranks 15th among the 29 DAC members, with a ratio of 0.26% putting it…
Read MoreBudget 2017 takes positive steps for women, but more needed on foreign aid.
The Government of Canada released its Federal Budget 2017 today, announcing a few new measures and investments aimed at making the economy work for women. Gender inequality is one of the most widespread and pernicious drivers of poverty and inequality worldwide. Promoting its feminist agenda worldwide has put Canada back on the international stage as…
Read MoreOxfam Canada sends work boots to Minister in hopes for a budget that works for women world-wide.
Oxfam Canada delivered a pair of work boots to Finance Minister Bill Morneau today, in the hopes that he will wear them ahead of budget day 2017 to signal his support for women’s rights world-wide. Almost every year Canada’s Minister of Finance buys new shoes to wear on the day the budget is delivered in…
Read MoreOxfam polls Canadians and will send feminist shoes to Finance Minister ahead of Budget 2017
Ottawa, March 14 – Almost every year, sometime before delivering his budget speech to the House of Commons, Canada’s Minister of Finance buys new shoes. This year, Oxfam asked Canadians: “What shoes should Finance Minister Bill Morneau wear on budget day to show he is serious about women’s rights?” Votes have already been cast from…
Read MoreNo escape for Syrians seeking safety six years after first protests – Oxfam
Six years since the demonstrations that triggered the descent into a brutal civil war, millions of Syrians are bearing the brunt of increasingly restrictive policies around the world and inside Syria to stop them reaching safety, Oxfam warned today. Those who have fled Syria are seeing doors slammed in their faces as rich countries across…
Read MoreOxfam Canada Welcomes Funding for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights from Government of Canada on International Women’s Day
Women’s Day In response to Prime Minister Trudeau and International Development Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau’s announcement today of $650 million over three years towards sexual and reproductive health and rights, Oxfam Canada Executive Director, Julie Delahanty, said: “Today’s announcement comes at a critical moment. We are seeing the clawing back of hard-won women‘s rights in many…
Read MoreOxfam condemns President Trump’s latest attempt to slam the door on vulnerable refugees
Ottawa – Oxfam condemns President Trump’s latest effort to slam the door on refugees by signing yet another Executive Order denying safe refuge for the tens of thousands of people who urgently need the help of the United States. This repackaged ban is another affront to the world’s most vulnerable people and to the core…
Read MoreOxfam scorecard tracking Liberal Government action on women’s rights shows progress – but more needed to turn feminist words into action
Ottawa – Despite noble intentions and some important steps in the right direction, the bold feminist rhetoric from the current Liberal government has not yet translated into meaningful policy and spending decisions, says a new scorecard and report from Oxfam Canada. In the lead up to International Women’s Day, Oxfam Canada has published its first…
Read MoreCanada’s $20M pledge for sexual and reproductive health and welcome, but more needed to address gap
Canadian civil society leaders in Brussels as part of the Canadian delegation for the She Decides funding conference welcomed International Development Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau’s initial pledge today of $20M to address for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), saying it was in line with other Governments and an important first step in the right…
Read MoreThreat of four famines in 2017 “a catastrophic betrayal of our common humanity”
The world stands on the brink of an unprecedented four famines in 2017 due to a catastrophic failure of the global community to uphold its obligations to the most vulnerable of people. Oxfam today calls on donors to take immediate action to help as many as 20 million people now at risk of starvation. Famine…
Read MoreAid agencies in South Sudan warn that funds are urgently needed to stop the spread of famine
Twenty seven humanitarian agencies working in South Sudan have warned that unless substantial funds are immediately provided to those working on the ground, organizations will struggle to stop famine spreading across the country in the next few months. The statement follows Monday’s declaration of famine in parts of the country. The UN has appealed…
Read MoreFamine in South Sudan reflects international failure, Oxfam
Emma Jane Drew, Humanitarian Program Manager in South Sudan says: “This is a man-made tragedy, and we are running out of time to avoid it getting worse. In over 30 years working in the affected areas, Oxfam has never witnessed such dire need. Vulnerable people, out of reach of life-saving assistance due to the conflict,…
Read MoreFears for 750,000 people trapped in western Mosul as battle draws near, Oxfam
An estimated 750,000 people are trapped in western Mosul without any safe means of escape from the latest military offensive that could start any day, Oxfam warned today. Humanitarian conditions in the west of the city are deteriorating after supply routes were cut off in November when the east of the city was being recaptured.…
Read MoreOxfam condemns President Trump’s discriminatory Executive Order on refugees and urges Canadian action
Oxfam Canada is deeply concerned about President Trump’s Executive Order on refugees and the impact it could have on refugees and immigrants worldwide. The Executive Order has indefinitely suspended the US refugee program for Syrian resettlement, put a temporary hold on all refugee admissions, and put in place a travel ban on citizens from 7…
Read MoreOxfam Response to US President Trump’s Executive Orders to reinstate the Global Gag Rule (Mexico City Policy)
Oxfam Canada strongly condemns the recent decision of the US Government to reinstate the Global Gag Rule, also known as the Mexico City Policy. This policy will leave a major funding gap for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and severely impact access to services for women and adolescents in developing countries. Canada must…
Read MoreJoint Statement on Trump’s Global Gag Rule Re-Enactment
We, the undersigned organizations, strongly condemn President Trump’s signing of the Global Gag Rule on January 23rd 2017, one of his first acts as President of the United States. During the Reagan, Bush Sr. and Bush Jr. administrations, the Global Gag Rule prohibited foreign NGOs receiving U.S. assistance related to family planning and reproductive health…
Read MoreOpen Letter to Minister of Finance, Bill Morneau
Dear Minister Morneau, It’s 2017 and we want to see real change. Last week Oxfam revealed that just 8 men own the same wealth as the bottom half of humanity. There is no clearer sign that our global economic system is broken. We are writing to remind you to keep women – and particularly those…
Read MoreJust 8 men own same wealth as half the world, says new Oxfam report
Eight men own the same wealth as the 3.6 billion people who make up the poorest half of humanity, according to a new report by Oxfam. Here at home, just 2 people own the same wealth as the poorest 30% of Canadians. Oxfam's report, ‘An economy for the 99 percent’, published to mark the World…
Read MoreOxfam warns of hunger in Haiti 3 months after Hurricane Matthew
Hundreds of thousands of Haitians who survived Hurricane Matthew, which ripped through their country three months ago, will go hungry if governments, donors and aid agencies do not step up efforts to help them, warned Oxfam today. A $139m UN fund set up to respond the most urgent post-Hurricane Matthew needs is 38 percent underfunded. People in the South and…
Read MoreOxfam Response to CEDAW Concluding Observations and Recommendations
Oxfam welcomes today’s concluding observations and recommendations on Canada’s progress on women’s rights and gender equality from the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), the UN body responsible for upholding women’s human rights. While the Committee recognizes that some progress has been made on the implementation of Canada’s women’s human rights obligations,…
Read MoreOxfam Canada response to Canada Revenue Agency’s report on tax evasion and tax avoidance
Oxfam Canada welcomes the Canada Revenue Agency’s close review of the ways in which the Canada Revenue Agency can combat tax evasion and tax avoidance in it’s newly released report: The Canada Revenue Agency, Tax Avoidance and Tax Evasion: Recommended Actions. Governments the world over are losing trillions of dollars each year that could be spent…
Read MoreOxfam Canada response to House of Commons Finance Committee pre-budget consulation report
The House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance released its report Creating the Conditions for Growth: Tools for People, Business and Communities on December 7, 2016. The report captures the testimony and recommendations of 293 witnesses and 445 briefs. As a result, the Finance committee made 81 concrete recommendations to the government of Canada, with…
Read MoreOxfam response to report on development cooperation of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development
Oxfam welcomes the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development’s report, Development cooperation for a more stable, inclusive and prosperous world: a collective ambition. The report puts forth 7 strong recommendations that, if implemented, would certainly contribute to greater effectiveness of Canada’s development approach. One of the key findings of the report is the…
Read MoreLess than 3% of five million Syrian refugees resettled in rich countries: Oxfam
Less than three per cent of nearly five million refugees living in Syria’s neighbouring states have been resettled in rich countries according to a new report published today by Oxfam. Instead a lack of political will and a rise in xenophobia have driven a backlash against refugees in many countries. Oxfam reviewed the resettlement policies…
Read MoreOxfam response to news of execution-style killings in Aleppo
In response to news of execution-style killings in Aleppo, Andy Baker, Oxfam’s Regional Program Manager for the Syria crisis response, said: “Oxfam is deeply concerned at reports that dozens of civilians, including women and children, have been executed in Aleppo by pro-government forces. The government of Syria and their armed allies must ensure civilians who…
Read MoreAlmost 100 dead after Indonesia earthquake, Oxfam responding
Oxfam is mounting a response to the 6.5 magnitude earthquake that hit the northern end of the Indonesian island of Sumatra near Banda Aceh yesterday morning. Almost 100 people have been killed and more than 500 injured, according to local military officials. Up to 200 buildings have been destroyed and many of the people killed…
Read MoreOxfam Canada response the unfolding situation in Aleppo, Syria
"It is only now that residents of east Aleppo – who have faced intense and sustained bombardment by air and by land for years – are fleeing across conflict lines. This is a sign of how extreme the situation is in the east of the city, and the fact their safety is far from guaranteed…
Read MoreOxfam Canada response to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s funding announcement in Liberia
In response to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s announcement on funding in Liberia, Oxfam Canada’s Senior Policy Advisor Diana Sarosi, said: “At Oxfam, we know from our work that empowering women and girls is the only way to bring an end to poverty and inequality. We are thrilled to see Canada contribute $10 million over 5…
Read MoreJulie Delahanty, Executive Director of Oxfam Canada, named one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women
Ottawa, Ontario (November 24, 2016) ––Oxfam Canada is pleased to announce that it’s Executive Director, Julie Delahanty, has been named one of Canada’s most powerful women by the Women’s Executive Network. This outstanding award is presented to the top 100 most powerful women in Canada each year. Launched in 2003, the awards celebrate the incredible…
Read MoreCredit Suisse Global Wealth Report again exposes shocking inequality
Commenting on Credit Suisse’s Global Wealth Report which was published today, Oxfam Canada’s Manager of Campaigns, Kelly Bowden, said: “One again, the Credit Suisse Global Wealth Report shows that economic inequality is at shockingly high levels. The huge gap between the richest 1 percent of people and the poorest half of humanity continues to grow…
Read MoreOxfam provides new generator to improve water supply to people in besieged East Aleppo under attack with little food, water and healthcare
Oxfam moved Wednesday a huge generator across conflict lines to East Aleppo to help improve the water supply, but all other aid to the besieged area remains cut off. More than a quarter of a million people face winter with limited food and clean water, as renewed Syrian and Russian airstrikes stretch medical resources beyond…
Read More‘We just came from the dead’ – families describe their escape from Mosul to Oxfam, as the number fleeing triples
Families are suffering appalling injuries and traumas to escape the fighting in Mosul as the number fleeing more than triples in the space of a week. Oxfam and other humanitarian agencies are working to ensure that the support in camps and communities keeps pace with the new arrivals. One woman who arrived at Hassansham camp,…
Read MorePeople living in ‘smoke-filled hell’ in areas around Mosul recaptured from ISIS
People living in ‘smoke-filled hell’ in areas around Mosul recaptured from ISIS Thousands of families are living in a “smoke-filled hell” with hardly any access to clean water or medical services after ISIS militants retreated from towns and villages on the way to Mosul, Oxfam said today. ISIS militants set 19 oil wells ablaze in the…
Read MoreA year after the Paris climate deal, most vulnerable are still not getting financial support they need
The amount of net financial assistance going to help developing countries fight climate change has been miscounted by tens of billions of dollars, according to a new Oxfam report released on the eve of the United Nations’ climate change conference in Morocco. In “The Climate Finance Shadow Report 2016,” Oxfam shows that of the $41…
Read MoreHeavy rains in Haiti halt emergency response – Oxfam pushes for more support
The emergency response in Haiti is at a standstill following nearly 48 hours of heavy rains. Helicopters are grounded, ships moored and nearly all road access blocked. Oxfam, already responding to the devastation caused by Hurricane Matthew in Haiti, is now pushing for more and immediate international support. The weather could not have come at…
Read MoreSuper typhoon Haima aftermath: Oxfam assesses needs on the ground
At least seven are confirmed dead and thousands remain displaced after super typhoon Haima (local name: Lawin) pounded northern parts of the Philippines. Haima hit land as a category 4 storm but eventually weakened to category 3 after traversing the mountains of Sierra Madre and the Cordilleras. Heightened public awareness helped minimize casualties. Authorities implemented…
Read MoreWomen driving economic growth but getting shortchanged on benefits, says new Oxfam Canada report
Addressing the unequal economics of women’s work is fundamental to closing the gap between women and men, and between the rich and the poor, says Shortchanged, a new report published today by Oxfam Canada. The report – launched to coincide with the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty and the Government of Canada’s federal…
Read MoreHurricane Matthew: International community must respond now to prevent more loss of life
Food, shelter and clean water are needed urgently by people in southern Haiti following the destruction caused by Hurricane Matthew last week. Oxfam fears that the current death toll of at least 800 will increase further. The international community must act immediately to mitigate the loss of entire harvests and to counter any possible spikes…
Read MoreDevastation caused by Hurricane Matthew is likely to worsen – Oxfam calls for immediate international action
As Oxfam teams access the most affected areas in Haiti, the destruction left by hurricane Matthew is more evident, as well as the urgent humanitarian needs of those affected. It is reported that over 300 people have been killed in the worst hit South department alone, according to Civil Protection authorities. The number of deaths…
Read MoreOxfam mobilizes as Hurricane Matthew hits hard in Haiti and the Dominican Republic and heads for Cuba
The full extent of Hurricane Matthew’s damage on Haiti will not be certain until response teams are able to access the most affected areas, but already official and eye-witness reports confirm the most devastating effects in the south of the country. The full extent of Hurricane Matthew’s damage on Haiti will not be certain until…
Read MoreOxfam staff prepared to respond as hurricane Matthew remains strong in the Caribbean
Hurricane Matthew continues its trajectory in the center of the Caribbean region. Jamaica, Cuba, Haiti and Dominican Republic are already experiencing heavy rains and high speed winds, that will worsen in the following 24 hours. Matthew already went through the Caribbean Coast of Colombia, leaving one person dead and several flooded areas in Magdalena and…
Read MoreHurricane Matthew
Hurricane Matthew, a dangerous storm whose top sustained winds have sometimes reached 160 miles per hour, is churning through the Caribbean, with Jamaica, Haiti, Cuba, and the Bahamas in its path. Torrential rains are expected, with 25 inches—possibly up to 40 in places—predicted for southern Haiti. High winds will likely topple trees, damage homes, and trigger…
Read MoreOxfam’s reaction to the attack on an aid convoy in Aleppo
Andy Baker, Oxfam’s lead for the Syria Crisis Response, said: “There is absolutely no excuse for the shocking attack yesterday on an aid convoy in rural Aleppo. The aid workers on the convoy were delivering much needed help to thousands of people and Oxfam is appalled and outraged that many of them lost their lives…
Read MoreOxfam Canada response to Prime Minister Trudeau’s address at the United Nations General Assembly
In response to Prime Minister Trudeau’s address at the United Nations General Assembly, Oxfam Canada’s Director of Policy, Lauren Ravon, said: “We are proud to see Prime Minister Trudeau taking a leadership role on the international stage. Canada’s welcoming of tens of thousands of Syrian refugees should be applauded and we hope it will inspire…
Read MoreUN Summit on Refugees Likely to Fall Short
Governments may be patting themselves on the back when they attend Monday’s UN summit on Refugees and Migrants in New York, but their political commitments are falling far short of what is needed to address the global displacement crisis or protect people on the move, says Oxfam. While it is right for countries to put national…
Read MoreAlmost 4 million refugees and asylum seekers flee to countries also in conflict
Close to four million refugees and asylum seekers have fled from one conflict zone to another, Oxfam said today ahead of two summits on migration in New York next week. Oxfam analysis shows that these millions of vulnerable women, men and children were registered in 15 countries – having fled their own – where conflict…
Read MoreEmpower young people in their fight for equality, says new Oxfam report
Despite there being more young people in the world today than ever before, they are excluded from decision-making and are the most vulnerable to economic crises, says a new Oxfam report. Released to mark International Youth Day and as the World Social Forum gets underway, the report, ‘Youth and Inequality: Time to support youth as…
Read MoreSouth Sudan: Violence Fuels Humanitarian Crisis
South Sudan faces a spiralling humanitarian crisis as the recent surge in fighting prevents aid agencies from providing urgent help to millions of people in need. Violence and insecurity continue in Juba and are spreading to other states despite a fragile ceasefire in a country where half the population relies on humanitarian aid, ten aid…
Read MoreNearly 400,000 civilians cut off from aid in Aleppo and Manbij since Syria support group pledged to secure access
More than 300,000 civilians in Aleppo and an estimated 60,000 in the Manbij area, Syria, have been cut off from aid in the last three weeks, marking a shameful deterioration since the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) promised to open full access to aid across the country six months ago. While the ISSG meets in…
Read MorePananama Papers: Africa losing billions due to offshore deals
In response to the latest Panama Papers leak that exposes how Africa is being deprived billions of dollars in natural resource revenues due to offshore deals, Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of Oxfam International, said: “This latest scandal focuses on the billions Africa is losing out on due to the wide use of shell companies, as…
Read MoreSix richest countries host less than 9% of refugees
The six wealthiest countries – which make up more than half the global economy – host less than nine percent of the world’s refugees while poorer countries and territories are shouldering most of the responsibility, Oxfam said today. Jordan, Turkey, Pakistan, Lebanon, South Africa as well as the Occupied Palestinian Territory host over 50 percent…
Read MoreOxfam welcomes ceasefire in Juba
Juba – Oxfam’s Country Director in South Sudan, Zlatko Gegic, said: “With caution but great hope, Oxfam welcomes last night’s ceasefire. We have all been down this path before and we sincerely hope that this ceasefire is an overture to long-lasting peace. “The people of South Sudan are tired. They have suffered enormously and desperately…
Read MoreSouth Sudan’s fragile peace: After five years of independence, urgent reform is needed
Five years after the birth of South Sudan, Oxfam warned today that without commitment from all signatories to the country's 2015 peace agreement, the country will falter. According to Oxfam, the transitional government and the international community need to focus on ensuring the provisions of the peace agreement are upheld, particularly commitments to economic reform…
Read MoreOxfam Canada comments ahead of North American Leader’s Summit
As Ottawa prepares to host the North American Leader’s Summit on Wednesday, June 29th, Oxfam Canada’s Director of Policy and Campaigns, Lauren Ravon, said: “Oxfam is pleased to see the importance Prime Minister Trudeau is placing on dialogue and collaboration with our neighbors. As North Americans we share not only borders, but many common values…
Read MoreG7 sides with tax dodgers leaving the public to pick up their bill
"G7 leaders have sided with the tax dodgers and not the public. Despite all the talk of action, the G7 have missed this opportunity to end the destructive era of tax havens, and the world’s poorest people – especially women and girls, will pay the price. "The G7 failed to support measures that would…
Read MoreMedia Reactive: End of World Humanitarian Summit
Some progress at World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul – but world leaders fail to deliver the goods As the World Humanitarian Summit draws to a close, Oxfam’s welcomes the progress made by those attending the two day event but the absence of key world leaders ultimately undermined the power of the summit to deliver the…
Read MoreOxfam to Increase Its Emergency Relief Efforts in Sri lanka
Nearly 425,000 Sri Lankans were affected, and 240,000 remain displaced by floods, landslides, and torrential rains. Oxfam is increasing its relief efforts to help thousands who have been hit by the floods and landslides in Sri Lanka. Working through its partners in five districts of Sri Lanka: Colombo, Gampaha, Kegalle, Puttalam and Ratnapura. It has…
Read MoreBangladesh: Cyclone Roanu – Oxfam emergency teams at work
Bangladesh: Cyclone Roanu – Oxfam emergency teams at work Oxfam is reaching communities in Bangladesh hit yesterday by Cyclone Roanu. Oxfam’s local partners have already reached Chittagong, taking emergency life-saving kits and equipment. The agency is assessing the scale of the crisis and how best it can provide further help. More Oxfam aid workers…
Read MoreOxfam Media Advisory for the World Humanitarian Summit
The World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul is taking place in a world where 125 million people are affected by disaster and conflict. In 2014/15 Oxfam reached 12.9 million people in need of humanitarian assistance in over 50 emergencies. The Summit brings together world leaders, international and local NGOs to make meaningful commitments to prevent or…
Read MoreOxfam welcomes launch of international assistance review consultations
In response to the launch of the international assistance review consultations, Julie Delahanty, Oxfam Canada’s Executive Director, said: “Oxfam welcomes the news that the Government of Canada will consult and engage with Canadians and civil society in determining Canada’s aid priorities.” “Today’s announcement by the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development and…
Read MoreSri Lanka Landslide and Flooding – Oxfam Launches Aid Effort
Oxfam is using its in-country aid stocks to provide essential household items and portable toilets to families hit by the Sri Lankan landslides and flood. A team of Oxfam aid workers is assessing the scale of the crisis and how best the agency can provide further help. Nearly 350,000 people are believed to be affected…
Read MoreAnti-corruption summit delivers underwhelming response to challenge set by Panama Papers
The package of measures announced by governments attending the anti-corruption summit in London today will not stop tax cheats said Oxfam. Politicians from over 40 countries, along with World Bank and IMF representatives, attended the conference. The anti-corruption summit announced a series of measures by different countries including commitments to set up central registries of…
Read MoreTax havens ‘serve no useful economic purpose’: 300 economists tell world leaders
Experts including Thomas Piketty, Jeff Sachs, Nora Lustig and Angus Deaton call for more tax transparency More than 300 leading economists from 30 countries have today written to world leaders warning that there is no economic justification for allowing tax havens to continue, and urging them to bring an end to offshore financial secrecy. The…
Read MoreLatin America’s spring harvest is El Niño’s latest victim, putting millions at risk of malnutrition
Families across Latin America are running out of food and options as farmers report another failed harvest due to intense and unpredictable weather patterns compounded by El Niño. Already, El Niño has caused one of the worst droughts in the last few decades across Central America and the Caribbean in 2015. Food shortages are now…
Read MoreDetention riots expose how EU is failing people fleeing to Greece
The riots in Moria closed facility in Lesbos on Tuesday expose how European Union policies are failing to deliver a fair and safe system for receiving people into Greece, warned Oxfam today. The asylum procedure is opaque and inconsistent and basic services in many camps and centers across the country need improving. Limited capacity within…
Read MoreOxfam to provide safe water to 10,000 people in Ecuador
Two tonnes of water pipes and tanks arrived in Quito last night by plane with the support of the Spanish Cooperation Agency AECID. The aid will provide safe water for 10,000 people in the worst conditions, those whose homes have been completely destroyed or in areas where public water systems have been severely damaged. “Government…
Read MoreThe signing of the Paris climate agreement marks key moment to turn aspiration into action
As more than 160 countries come together to sign the Paris Climate Change Agreement, taking a critical step towards its implementation, Oxfam Canada calls on governments to continue to confront climate change collectively and turn their commitments into action, while strengthening their current pledges and agreeing to higher finance levels. "Canada’s signing of the Paris…
Read MoreOxfam to dispatch first shipment of aid to people following Ecuador quake
World-wide development organization Oxfam will send its first shipment of aid tomorrow to those people most affected from the 7.8 earthquake that struck Ecuador last Saturday. Oxfam has already deployed a 7-person team consisting of water, sanitation and hygiene experts, as well as logisticians, to determine the most effective way to mount its humanitarian response.…
Read MoreLampedusa 1 year on: EU still failing to deal with migration crisis as death toll rises
Despite 800 people drowning off Lampedusa in the Mediterranean on this day last year, Europe is still failing to deal effectively with the migration crisis. Vulnerable people seeking safety and dignity remain at risk of death, torture and exploitation as they try to reach and cross the Mediterranean to then face a legal limbo once…
Read MoreOxfam responding to major earthquake in Ecuador
Oxfam is responding to a major earthquake off the coast of Ecuador. We will shortly be sending teams to the area to assess the extent of damage and how Oxfam can best assist the Government response. This was a very strong earthquake that has already claimed dozens of lives. With strong aftershocks still going on…
Read MoreSlight increase in development aid not sufficient to lift people out of poverty
Oxfam Canada comments on OECD figures on development aid: Slight increase in development aid not sufficient to lift people out of poverty Development aid has reached an all-time high, according to figures released today by the OECD. However, with 900 million people still living in extreme poverty much more needs to be done: only a handful of countries…
Read MoreMajority of World Bank’s private investments go to companies that have a presence in tax havens, says Oxfam
Majority of World Bank’s private investments go to companies that have a presence in tax havens, says Oxfam Fifty-one of the 68 companies that were lent money by the World Bank’s private lending arm in 2015 to finance investments in sub-Saharan Africa use tax havens, Oxfam revealed today. Oxfam’s analysis focused on International Finance Corporations…
Read MoreCanada one of only three countries to resettle ‘fair share’ of Syrian refugees
Oxfam’s new analysis shows that only three countries – Canada, Germany and Norway – have made resettlement pledges exceeding their ‘fair share’, which is calculated according to the size of their economy. As Minister McCallum meets with state representatives from over 80 nations in Geneva today to discuss the Syria refugee crisis, Oxfam urges others…
Read MoreUnpaid, unequal, and undervalued, says new report on women’s work and wages
Women are unpaid, undervalued and unequal, says a new report published today by Oxfam Canada and the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA). The recovery that followed the 2008 financial crisis has not benefited everyone equally. To respond to increasingly slow growth today, we need to understand how inequality is putting the brakes on our…
Read MoreIn reaction to the announcement of a ceasefire being announced in some parts of Syria, Oxfam Canada’s Executive Director, Julie Delahanty, said:
"The ceasefire might not be complete or nation-wide, but it is the first de-escalation measure in the conflict in a long time, and an important development on the road to a more sustainable halt to the violence. When guns and bombs are silenced, people are better able to leave their homes and shelters, go to…
Read MoreMoney for aid vital and welcome, but other actions needed as peace talks fail in Geneva
In response to billions of dollars being pledged by governments today to help Syrians engulfed in the country's conflict, Andy Baker, Regional Program Manager for Oxfam's Syria crisis response said: "The London conference is a potential turning point. Some rich countries have pledged far more than in previous years. And it is welcome that Syrian…
Read MoreCanada generous, but most wealthy nations fall short in supporting Syrians affected by conflict
Rich countries meeting in London this week must commit to real changes that will improve the lives of millions of Syrians, said Oxfam today. Aid funding and resettlement places offered so far were often so low as to be little more than token gestures. Syrians in need are waiting for actions not just kind words…
Read MoreMillions at risk as Ethiopia suffers worst drought in a generation – Oxfam
Millions of people are at risk as Ethiopia suffers its worst drought in thirty years. In some parts of the country, women and girls are walking for two days to get water for their families and animals. In Siti zone in the east of the country, many people have told Oxfam that they are dependent…
Read MoreMedia reactive: Oxfam response to UN announcement of worsening hunger in Yemen
In response to the UN’s announcement of worsening hunger in Yemen, Josephine Hutton, Oxfam’s regional programme manager, said: "Yemen has been on a slow downward road to starvation for many months and the growing number of people going hungry shows its descent is gathering pace. The ongoing fighting, indiscriminate attacks on civilians by both sides,…
Read MoreOxfam Canada response to Prime Minister Trudeau’s World Economic Forum Keynote Address – the “Canadian Opportunity”
In response to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s keynote address at the World Economic Forum this morning, Executive Director of Oxfam Canada, Julie Delahanty, said: "Prime Minister Trudeau just took to the world stage in Davos with a strong message to global leaders that today’s 'technological' revolution needs to benefit everyone. We agree. Technology on its…
Read More62 people own same as half the world – Oxfam
Runaway inequality has created a world where 62 people own as much wealth as the poorest half of the world’s population. This figure has fallen from 388 just five years ago, according to an Oxfam report published today ahead of the annual gathering of the world’s financial and political elites in Davos. An Economy for…
Read MoreAid agencies: One-off aid convoys won’t save starving Syrians
International aid agencies working in Syria today expressed relief that a convoy of food aid and other first need items was finally allowed into Madaya where people have reportedly been dying of starvation. Aid is also today being delivered to other besieged areas including Fua’a and Kafraya. Agencies warned however that only a complete end…
Read MoreOxfam welcomes the Government of Canada’s extension of the Syrian Emergency Relief Match Fund
Ottawa, January 7, 2016 – As winter takes hold, conditions for those affected by the conflict in Syria continue to worsen. In the face of ongoing need, Oxfam welcomes today’s announcement to extend the Syrian Emergency Relief Match Fund to February 29, 2016. Global Affairs Canada will continue to match every eligible dollar, up to a…
Read MoreAgreed climate deal offers a frayed life-line for the world’s poorest people – Oxfam
The Paris climate deal has brought the world’s powers together but has short-changed the poorest and most vulnerable people as they struggle with the burgeoning reality of rising sea-levels, floods and drought Oxfam warned today. The international agency said the deal is a land-mark step but has not done enough to ensure that a 3°C…
Read MoreWomen’s participation in Yemen peace talks key for ending violence and finding lasting political solution
Negotiations to end a bloody conflict in Yemen have a far better chance of long term success if women have a place at the table, says Oxfam. The current conflict has had a devastating impact on women and girls with millions hungry, out of school and lacking vital healthcare. Women are also facing a rise…
Read MoreWorld’s richest 10% produce half of carbon emissions while poorest 3.5 billion account for just a tenth
The poorest half of the world’s population – 3.5 billion people – is responsible for just 10 percent of carbon emissions, despite being the most threatened by the catastrophic storms, droughts, and other severe weather shocks linked to climate change. This inequality is further illustrated in the findings of a new Oxfam report, released during…
Read MoreDelays in cutting emissions set to cost developing countries hundreds of billions of dollars more
Oxfam report reveals spiralling costs of 3°C compared to 2°C warmingDeveloping countries’ economies risk being crushed under the double burden of climate change adaptation costs of almost $800 billion, and more than twice that in economic losses every year by 2050, if pledges to cut emissions are not improved, Oxfam warned today. In a new…
Read MoreLeading aid agencies: Refugee camps in Tanzania put over 110,000 Burundian refugees at risk
Health and shelter for Burundian refugees in Tanzania are poised to get worse in already overstretched camps, leading aid agencies warned today, if there is an increased influx of refugees across the border. Oxfam, HelpAge International, Plan International, Save the Children, International Rescue Committee (IRC) and the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) said that reports of…
Read MoreOxfam Canada on the G20: gender equality, climate change, global tax reform, refugees and migrants critical issues to discuss in Turkey
G20 leaders are holding their annual meeting in Antalya, Turkey, on November 15 – 16, where gender equality, climate change, global tax reform, and the refugee and migrant crisis will be on the agenda. Julie Delahanty, Executive Director of Oxfam Canada said: “This is the first international meeting for Prime Minister Trudeau, and a chance for…
Read MoreCanada and other G20 nations among biggest losers in large-scale tax abuse – but poor countries hardest hit
G20 countries – including Canada – are among the biggest losers when US multinationals avoid paying taxes where they do business. This is the main finding of a new report on the global tax system, Still Broken, released by the Tax Justice Network, Oxfam, Global Alliance for Tax Justice and Public Services International today. Overall…
Read MoreMillions at risk of falling into poverty: Oxfam Canada comments on World Bank report
Oxfam commends the World Bank for connecting the need to tackle climate change with the urgent fight to end poverty. In a new report, called Shock Waves: Managing the Impacts of Climate Change on Poverty, the Bank warns that more than 100 million additional people could be pushed into poverty by crop failures, floods, hunger,…
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