More needs to be done to stop the spread of Ebola
For immediate release More needs to be done to stop the spread of Ebola Oxfam is warning that the Ebola outbreak in West Africa will not be contained unless more is done to prevent new infections. The UN is planning to tackle the illness by treating people already infected with the disease, tracing their contacts…
Read MoreOxfam in BC commemorates World Food Day with a Pailwalker
DescriptionJoin the Oxfam BC team and commemorate World Food day with a Pailwalker. A Pailwalker is a walk in solidarity with the countless women and girls worldwide who walk a minimum of 6km a day to get water. WHEN : Saturday, October 18th at noon until we finish our 6km walk WHERE : Gathering point in front…
Read MoreOxfam congratulates education champions Kailash Satyarthi and Malala Yousafzai on Nobel Peace Prize
The Global Campaign for Education (GCE) co-founder Kailash Satyarthi and girls' education champion Malala Yousafzai have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. "Oxfam offers its heartfelt congratulations to Malala and Kailash for winning the Nobel Peace Prize. Their fearless and tireless campaigning for education is legendary. Education is the most powerful weapon to fight growing…
Read MoreOxfam Canada statement on the Iraq Crisis
Background Since January, conflict and human rights abuses in Iraq have displaced around 1.8 million Iraqis, according to the UN. With a major offensive launched by the group known as Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in June, local civilians have faced violence, abductions, mass executions and persecution of ethnic and religious minorities.…
Read MoreOxfam is tripling its aid in Ebola hit countries as the disease spirals out of control
International agency Oxfam is planning to triple its Ebola prevention programme in Sierra Leone Oxfam will be significantly stepping up its water and sanitation supply to Ebola treatment centers and community care centers, supply of hygiene materials and boosting its mass public information campaign. Oxfam has already helped over half a million people by providing water…
Read MoreSouth Sudan: From Crisis to Catastrophe
OTTAWA/MISSISSAUGA, ON (October 6, 2014) – A group of leading aid agencies warned today that parts of South Sudan, which are already facing a severe food crisis, could fall into famine early next year if the conflict between warring factions escalates. The agencies, which include CARE, Oxfam and World Vision, fear that efforts this…
Read MoreArms Trade Treaty set to enter into force before end of year as number of ratifications tops 50
Argentina, St Lucia, Portugal, Senegal, and Uruguay are amongst latest states to announce ratification – triggering 90-day countdown Fifty states are required to ratify the treaty before the 90-day countdown to entry into force could begin. Today, seven states including, Argentina, The Bahamas, The Czech Republic, St Lucia, Portugal, Senegal, and Uruguay will ratify at…
Read MoreUN Climate Summit: Countries must do more to commit to Green Climate Fund
Today, more than 120 world leaders, corporate leaders and representatives from civil society met in New York for the UN Climate Summit. Created as a platform for international and national commitments to tackle climate change, the collection of announcements offered a limited approach to addressing the urgent threat of climate change. In response to this…
Read MoreHumanitarian Coalition Launches Joint Appeal for Ebola Outbreak
(Ottawa) Today, the Humanitarian Coalition launches a national joint appeal to raise funds for public health and disease prevention efforts in West Africa. This latest outbreak of the Ebola virus has so far infected more than five thousand people, with confirmed cases resulting in more than 2,500 deaths. Centred in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea,…
Read MoreClimate-related disasters have cost half a trillion dollars since world leaders last met to discuss climate change
Ban Ki-moon Climate Summit at risk of failing to help stop climate change making people hungry (New York, Sept 19): The cost of weather-related disasters in the five years since global leaders last met to discuss climate change is almost half a trillion dollars ($490 billion) – three times more than for the whole of…
Read MoreFAO Hunger Report 2014: Global hunger falls, 805 million people still hungry
“Oxfam welcomes any fall in the number of hungry people. This is proof that we can make great strides in eradicating global hunger. But in a world of plenty, 805 million hungry people is still 805 million too many,” said Oxfam spokesperson Luca Chinotti. “Global hunger is still unacceptably high.” “The fight to end global…
Read MoreTax systems in Latin America and the Caribbean work for the benefit of the elites
While OECD countries reduce inequality by more than 35% through taxation and social spending, in Latin America and the Caribbean this reduction is less than 10%. The global development organization Oxfam calls on the governments of the region to take appropriate measures to maximise the redistributive impact of the tax system and increase social investment.…
Read MoreWorld Bank Group’s billion dollar private sector health initiative in Africa is failing to reach the poor
A billion-dollar flagship scheme to support private sector-led health care in Africa is bypassing poor people and concentrating instead on high-end urban hospitals catering mainly for the rich. Oxfam says that the “Health in Africa” initiative, run by the International Finance Corporation’s (IFC) – the private sector arm of the World Bank Group – is…
Read MoreInternational response to Syria failing on ‘every front’
The international response to Syria is failing on three fronts – insufficient aid, meagre resettlement offers and continued arms transfers – Oxfam warns in a report published today. Oxfam is calling on the UN to impose an arms embargo on all warring parties in Syria and is urging governments of rich countries to provide their…
Read MoreOxfam Canada names new Executive Director
Ottawa – Today, Oxfam Canada announced the appointment of Julie Delahanty as its new Executive Director, effective October 1st, 2014. “We’re excited to announce Julie’s appointment,” said Margaret Hancock, Chair of the Oxfam Canada Board. “She brings great knowledge and leadership in gender equality and human rights, and more than 20 years experience in…
Read MoreLarge-scale partnerships with the private sector could undermine Africans’ land rights, drive inequality and damage the environment
(Addis Ababa) Government policies and almost US$6 billion in aid money to support large partnerships with the private sector are risking Africans’ land rights, worsening inequality and damaging the environment. According to Oxfam’s latest report, Moral Hazard? Mega public-private partnerships in African agriculture, so-called ‘mega’ public-private partnerships are unproven, risky and represent a dubious use…
Read MoreOxfam calls on Western governments to offer haven as number of registered Syrian refugees reaches 3 million
Western and other rich countries should step up their efforts to resettle Syrian refugees, Oxfam said today after the number registered with UNHCR reached three million.[1] Urgent action is necessary in order to respond to a growing regional crisis caused by increasing displacement, insufficient aid and over-burdened infrastructure in neighboring countries, Oxfam added. Approximately 5,000…
Read MoreOxfam Reaction to Provincial Support of Payment Transparency for the Extractives Sector
Oxfam welcomes the statement of support by Canada’s provincial energy and mines ministers for federal legislation to enhance the transparency of payments in the mining, oil and gas sectors. The statement marked the end of the 2014 Energy and Mines Ministers Conference in Sudbury, Ontario and is a clear indication of the growing support for…
Read MoreGaza humanitarian crisis will repeat unless restrictions are lifted
Israeli and Palestinian leaders must seize the opportunity of the new ceasefire to end the violence once and for all. Lasting peace for all civilians will only be possible if Israel permanently lifts its restrictions on Gaza’s economy and people, Oxfam said in a new report today. “Recent history must warn everyone that this ceasefire…
Read MoreWorld must suspend arms sales to protect civilians as Gaza violence escalates again
After ceasefire talks collapsed and violence erupted yet again, Oxfam today called on all states to immediately suspend transfers of arms or ammunition to Israel and any Palestinian armed group while there is serious risk that they could be used to violate international humanitarian law. The agency said the widespread killing of civilians and destruction…
Read MoreYouth leaders from campuses across Canada in Ottawa for Oxfam Summit
Ottawa – Oxfam Canada’s National CHANGE Summit – an annual opportunity for youth leaders and campus members to come together – will be taking place in Ottawa from August 21-24. The Summit gives delegates the chance to learn about women’s rights, international development and develop skills to take informed action on their campuses and in…
Read MoreKellogg issues climate change wake-up call
Oxfam welcomes Kellogg’s climate action commitments following public pressure Kellogg today became the second global food giant to say it will take industry-leading steps to cut greenhouse gas emissions in its agricultural supply chains in line with climate science. This is in response to actions by more than 238,000 supporters of Oxfam’s Behind the Brands campaign.…
Read MoreOxfam gears up its aid effort to help people affected by fighting in Iraq
Oxfam's Iraq Country Representative Wael Ibrahim said : "The situation is deteriorating day by day and our priority is to get to as many people as quickly as possible, families have been completely traumatised by the situation and are constantly on the move looking for safety. Our priority is to be ready to assist them…
Read MoreSouth Sudan sixty days promise set to be broken as peace talks falter again
Sixty days ago, both parties to the conflict made a promise to their people that they would bring an end to the fighting and agreed to establish a transitional government of national unity during Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD)-brokered mediation talks. But on the eve of the date set to deliver this promise, talks faltered…
Read MoreAid agencies condemn attacks on aid workers in South Sudan
A group of seven major humanitarian aid organizations condemns the recent killings and attacks on South Sudanese aid workers in Maban County in the Upper Nile State of South Sudan. We call on all parties to the conflict to immediately stop the targeting of aid workers, to respect international humanitarian law and to allow humanitarian…
Read MoreOxfam welcomes General Mills’ commitments to act on climate change following tremendous public pressure
General Mills takes bold stand for climate action Oxfam welcomes General Mills’ commitments to act following tremendous public pressure Oxfam welcomed today’s commitment from General Mills to implement industry-leading measures to cut greenhouse gas emissions from its supply chains and press for political action to address climate change. The announcement comes after more than 230,000…
Read MoreStatement from Anthony Scoggins, Director of International Programs
Statement from Anthony Scoggins, Director of International Programs for Oxfam Canada: Oxfam Canada is in the news today – on the radio, television and even trending on social media channels. This flurry of public and media interest has flowed from a request from the Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA) for Oxfam to modify our "purpose as a charity" on papers filed…
Read MorePeople in Gaza trapped with nowhere safe to escape. Oxfam delivers water to families sheltering from the violence
People in Gaza trapped with nowhere safe to escape. Oxfam delivers water to families sheltering from the violence Oxfam condemns violence against civilians by all sides, including Israeli military actions and Palestinian rocket fire. We urge the international community to do much more to push for a lasting ceasefire that ends the blockade and addresses the…
Read MoreThe new BRICS Bank should offer a new vision for development, not more of the same
Leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa – better known as the BRICS – have finalized their 6th summit in Fortaleza, Brazil, consolidating the creation of a new development bank that will provide fresh sources of financing for emerging economies. According to world-wide development organization Oxfam, even though additional development financing is welcome,…
Read MoreAs another typhoon hits Philippines Oxfam warns there are not enough evacuation centres to keep people safe
Tacloban City, Leyte – International agency Oxfam said today as another typhoon hits the Philippines there are insufficient evacuation centres available to keep people safe. “This typhoon is powerful but not the same strength as last year’s super typhoon. With people still living in vulnerable areas and makeshift shelters there is an urgency to help…
Read More75 years is too long to wait for equal pay: Oxfam urges G20 to act on gender gap
Women won’t be paid as much as men for another 75 years. That’s according to a report released by Oxfam today, which urges G20 leaders to tackle gender inequality when they meet in Australia later this year. The report, G20 and gender equality – How the G20 can advance women’s rights in employment, social protection and…
Read MoreAid effort to avert South Sudan famine in jeopardy
“We will be staring into the abyss and fail to avert a famine if funds do not start arriving soon.” Cecilia Millan Oxfam’s Country Director in South Sudan Aid agencies face closure of projects as money fails to arrive A group of seven major international aid agencies said they face a shortfall of $89 million…
Read MoreSouth Sudan: Oxfam warns the humanitarian crisis is spiralling out of control as funds dry up
On the 3rd anniversary of South Sudan’s independence, Oxfam has warned that appeals to fund the aid effort are failing as the country’s humanitarian crisis is spiralling out of control with malnutrition and sickness rising and an ever increasing number of people forced to flee their homes. South Sudan is currently Africa’s worst crisis with…
Read MoreOxfam Reaction to IMF Report on Global Taxation
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) today publishes a major new report on global corporate taxation Spillovers in international corporate taxation. In it, the IMF lists all the ways that big businesses are able to dodge taxes today over the world and admits this is causing “significant public disquiet”. It recognises that developing countries are being…
Read MoreOxfam presents “Break Another Silence” – Voices and Victories from LGBTI2S Movements Worldwide
On June 24th in Toronto’s George Ignatieff Theater, leaders from four continents will join Oxfam for a powerful speakers panel, profiling victories in the fight for LGBTI and Two-Spirit (2S) rights worldwide. The event, hosted by Oxfam Canada, will feature LGBTI2S rights activists from Canada and around the world, including: Mariela Castro Espín and Manuel Vásquez…
Read MoreOxfam applauds CEOs of eight of the big 10 food and beverage companies for bold call for climate action
Today, Oxfam praised the CEOs of eight of the ten biggest food and beverage companies in the world for joining together with the heads of some 400 major companies to call on world leaders, “to act with determination, leadership and ambition to secure an ambitious and legally binding global climate deal.” In response to this…
Read MoreEliminating inequality and the threat of climate change key to new UN development goals
Overcoming inequality and slowing global warming are imperative for achieving a world free from poverty and suffering, says an Oxfam report released today. “Making it Happen: Oxfam’s proposals for the Post-2015 Framework” comes ahead of the UN’s Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals (OWG) meeting in September. As the era of the Millennium Development…
Read MoreAfrican leaders demand immediate end to South Sudan violence
In response to the Letter from African Leaders to Salva Kiir and Riek Machar, Oxfam International’s Executive Director Winnie Byanyima said: “This letter, signed by 14 eminent African leaders, 12 of them former heads of state and government, shows that leaders of this continent are no longer prepared to sit by and watch the humanitarian…
Read MoreOxfam on G7 summit: Stronger steer needed on energy security, climate change and the global economy
Energy security, climate change and the global economy were among the main topics the G7 leaders addressed during the Brussels summit, but Oxfam says what’s needed is a stronger steer from leaders. Energy security and climate change Today G7 leaders backed the Rome G7 Energy Initiative adopted by their ministers last month, and stressed the…
Read MoreAfrica Rising: Time for a fair deal for Africa’s people
Maputo, Mozambique – Extreme inequality is a threat to democracy, warns Oxfam International's Executive Director Winnie Byanyima, at today’s closing session of the IMF – Mozambique government’s Africa Rising conference. Addressing global decision makers, Ms. Byanyima said that "when wealth shapes policy-making, the rules bend to favor the rich, democratic governance suffers and corruption proliferates." Africa has six of…
Read MoreOxfam Canada recipient of CCIC Innovation and Effectiveness Award
The following media release was issued by the Canadian Council for International Co-operation (CCIC). Oxfam Canada is a member of CCIC. Canadian Council for International Co-operation recognizes innovative and effective partnerships with four awards Ottawa: On Wednesday May 14, during its Annual Conference, the Canadian Council for International Co-operation (CCIC) awarded prizes to four Canadian…
Read MoreSouth Sudan on cholera alert as donors meet to pledge funds
As rains cut off humanitarian access and increase risk of the spread of disease, increased donor funding is critical to saving lives in South Sudan. The people of South Sudan, already exposed to conflict and hunger, are this week facing a new threat – cholera. The outbreak of the highly contagious disease in Juba ahead…
Read MoreBig ten food companies emitting as much as the “world’s 25th most polluting country”
Spotlight on Kellogg and General Mills; companies not doing enough to tackle climate change. The “Big 10” food and beverage companies are both highly vulnerable to climate change and major contributors to the problem. Together they emit so much greenhouse gas that, if they were a single country, they would be the 25th most polluting…
Read MoreGrowing concerns over missing girls in Nigeria #BringBackOurGirls
Oxfam in Nigeria has been watching very closely the unfolding situation of the missing girls in Chibok community of Borno State. We are very disappointed that 30 days after their abduction, the girls are yet to be brought back. Our concern goes out to the girls and their families at this very difficult time. In…
Read MoreSix months after Typhoon Haiyan, Oxfam and local partners call for urgent action to secure food and income
Leyte, Philippines – Urgent government action is needed to secure food and income for thousands of farmers and fisher men and women affected by typhoon Haiyan, said Oxfam and local partners. This call comes at the six month mark since Haiyan (known locally as Yolanda), the strongest typhoon to ever make landfall, hit the Philippines,…
Read MoreGrowth in Africa undermined by rapidly increasing inequality
Ahead of the World Economic Forum on Africa May 7-9, Oxfam International executive director Winnie Byanyima said “inequality will endanger progress in Africa. Africa's precious resources must benefit ordinary Africans.” She said Africa’s economic profile was “schizophrenic”, with sharp growth occurring while stubbornly high numbers of people remain locked into poverty. The result is ballooning…
Read MoreOxfam Reaction: UNSG Ban Ki-Moon Arrives in South Sudan
Welcoming UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon's visit to South Sudan, Oxfam's Country Director Cecilia Millan said: "South Sudan is rapidly deteriorating into an acute humanitarian crisis. The fighting has forced people away from their land and ways of making a living. If the conflict does not end soon then people will be unable to…
Read MoreRewriting global tax rules could increase developing countries’ corporate tax revenues by over 100%
OECD’s current tax action plan is flawed because it excludes poorest countries The G20’s plan to tackle corporate tax dodging, devised by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), needs a radical shake up so that developing countries can capture their fair share of foreign business activity, according to a new report published today…
Read MorePhilippines’ plan to relocate thousands of Haiyan survivors will fail unless government focuses on jobs too
Haiyan – known as Yolanda in the Philippines – was the strongest cyclone ever recorded at landfall. It killed 8,000 people and left four million people homeless. A new report today by worldwide aid agency Oxfam, The Right Move? Ensuring durable relocation after typhoon Haiyan, says that earning an income is the top priority for…
Read MoreStrong new agricultural investment rules needed to protect small-holder farmers, says Oxfam
Big agricultural companies need a “gold standard” set of global rules to guide their investments after a new Oxfam report shows that even supposedly “responsible” deals can hurt poor local farmers. Oxfam’s Smallholders at Risk report is aimed at the UN’s Committee on World Food Security that will meet next month in Rome to begin…
Read MoreSouth Sudan warning: Respond to humanitarian crisis now or face a larger catastrophe later
The safety of seven million people in South Sudan is rapidly deteriorating. Oxfam says the Government of South Sudan and parties to the conflict must immediately agree to a ceasefire. The international community needs to step up efforts to help stop the conflict and saves lives with a massive injection of emergency aid. Oxfam has…
Read MoreFirst meeting of the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation: Southern Players step up, will Northern Donors follow?
The High Level Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation Meeting in Mexico to strengthen efforts to fight poverty has ended with renewed commitments to improve aid and cooperation—but it has also highlighted the slow start of the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation. “The High Level Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation Meeting in Mexico City was…
Read MoreGlobal Partnership meeting in Mexico on future of development: What will its legacy be?
As development leaders from around the world gather in Mexico City to participate in the first High Level Meeting of the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation this week, Oxfam is asking a crucial question: What will be Mexico’s legacy? “The legacy of Busan was to bring us all together. But the billions of children,…
Read MoreOxfam stands by Lesotho hospital figures
The World Bank’s private sector arm, the IFC, today challenged Oxfam’s figures that the new private hospital complex it supported in Lesotho had cost the country $67 million to run in 2013/14, or 51% of its $133 million health budget. Oxfam stands by the figures. They were provided by Lesotho’s Ministry of Health among others.…
Read MoreChallenge to World Bank and IMF to get serious about extreme inequality
Global wealth inequality threatens economic and social viability Following Oxfam’s January report revealing that just 85 people owned the same wealth as the bottom half of the world’s population, Forbes has updated its “billionaires’ list”, showing that extreme inequality has worsened – just 67 people at the top now own half the wealth. Ray Offenheiser,…
Read MoreRecord global aid spending not reflected in Canada’s contribution or in assistance for Africa
Oxfam today celebrated news that donors had increased their development aid spending to $134.8 billion in 2013, which the OECD says stands at the highest-ever recorded level. However aid levels to Africa dropped by 5.6% to just $28.9 billion – back to the levels they were 10 years ago. “On the face of it, the…
Read MoreEmissions must be cut if we are to tackle hunger
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) today opens its meeting in Berlin to finalize its landmark report on cutting global emissions. This comes just a week after it met in Japan, where governments acknowledged that climate change will have a bigger affect on food production than stated in the IPCC’s previous report seven years ago.…
Read More“Model hospital” for privatized African health care threatens to swamp country’s budget
A new privately-run hospital supported by the World Bank’s private sector arm, the IFC, is threatening to bankrupt the health budget of one of the poorest and least-healthy countries in the world. The Queen Mamohato Memorial Hospital in Lesotho is the first of its kind in any low-income country in the world – built, financed…
Read MorePublic services top up income of poorest people by 76%
Health and education are powerful weapons in the fight against global inequality Countries can start tackling inequality today by triggering an “economic stimulus” directly into the pockets of those who need it most – by investing more in public services like health and education, says Oxfam. In a report today, Working for the Many, Oxfam…
Read MoreAs South Sudan peace talks are suspended, the fate of this young country hangs in the balance
In reaction to the suspension of South Sudan mediation talks in Addis Ababa, Oxfam’s Acting Country Director in South Sudan, David Crawford, said: “As the third round of negotiations on South Sudan adjourns with no resolution in sight, the fate of the citizens of this young country hangs in the balance. Already over one million…
Read MoreIPCC final report concludes with heightened warning of severe climate impacts on food; Time for inaction is over
The IPCC Working Group II report released Monday presents climate change not as a distant, future threat to food, but as a clear and present danger. In a world where nearly a billion people are going hungry, climate change is already making it harder for millions to feed their families and without urgent action on…
Read MoreWorld “woefully unprepared” for climate impacts on food, warns Oxfam
Climate change could push back the fight against hunger by decades but our global food system is woefully unprepared to cope with the challenge, said Oxfam today. The warning comes as governments gather in Japan to agree on a major new scientific report, which is expected to show that the impacts of climate change on…
Read MoreMore than 1 million languish in Darfur camps as new waves of violence force 100,000 more to flee
The escalating violence that has gripped Darfur in recent weeks has forced over 100,000 civilians to flee their homes and villages. Many of the Darfuris who have fled have no access to essential humanitarian assistance and are unable to reach safety. Oxfam has launched a response aimed at reaching more than 90,000 people with clean…
Read MorePepsiCo declares “zero tolerance” for land grabs in supply chain
Oxfam welcomes PepsiCo’s commitments to act following tremendous public pressure PepsiCo, the world’s second largest food and beverage company, today committed to take steps to stop land grabs from happening in its supply chain after more than 272,000 people signed petitions and took action as part of Oxfam’s campaign to urge food and beverage companies to…
Read MoreAs the anniversary of Syria crisis approaches, refugees surveyed say they fear they will not see Syria again
More than 65 per cent of refugees surveyed by Oxfam fear they may not be able to go back to Syria despite desperately wanting to return. Oxfam researchers surveyed 151 households of refugees in three areas of Jordan representing 1015 people. While the overwhelming majority of refugees want to return to Syria, just a third…
Read MoreStatement from Oxfam Canada’s Executive Director on International Women’s Day
Everyday, across the world, courageous and dedicated women are leading change: they produce food, make up a third of the official labour force and care for families and homes. While gender continues to be a primary determinant of poverty, significant shifts have been made around the world to advance women’s rights and increase gender equality.…
Read MoreInternational Women’s Day in National Capital Region showcased by Feminist Games
Ottawa – On March 8, 2014 a dynamic group of local, national and international organizations will host the Feminist Games – an International Women’s Day celebration in Ottawa at the Library and Archives Canada. Over 400 people are expected to move to the sounds of DJ Jas Nasty, sample local treats and refreshing beverages and celebrate…
Read MoreOxfam reaction to Canadian Government announcement on mandatory payment reporting of Extractive Industries
Oxfam reaction to Canadian Government announcement on mandatory payment reporting of Extractive Industries In response to the Hon. Joe Oliver, Minister of Natural Resources’ announcement at the PDAC Convention 2014, regarding mandatory payment reporting for Extractives, Lina Holguin, Oxfam spokesperson, said: Oxfam welcomes the government of Canada’s continued commitment to develop and implement mandatory reporting standards for…
Read MorePublic pressure pushes big food companies to improve their policies in developing countries
Campaign actions by hundreds of thousands of people in the past 12 months have swayed nine of the world’s ten biggest food and beverage companies to improve their social and environmental policies, says worldwide development organization Oxfam. Some leading companies made major strides in improving their policies on land and women’s rights, and carbon emissions.…
Read MoreOxfam raises new alarm over humanitarian access as it pulls team out of Malakal
Juba – Today Oxfam withdraws four aid workers who have been trapped by fighting in Malakal while raising a further alarm over a lack of humanitarian access across the country. Oxfam and other aid agency staff who were working inside the UN compound in the town had until today been unable to leave since fighting…
Read MoreReforming international tax system must be priority of G20
The G20 must take necessary steps to reform the international taxation system to stop wealthy tax dodgers, beginning at its Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting this weekend (22-23 Feb) in Sydney. Oxfam says that billions of dollars are lost each year in tax loopholes and avoidance. This gap must be plugged. Much of…
Read MoreTraders flee as widespread violence pushes Central African Republic into major food crisis
Violence in the Central African Republic has seen many large traders and herders targeted and chased from the country, raising fears of a market collapse that would exacerbate the current food crisis, warned international aid organisations today. Most of Bangui’s food trade relies on around 40 large-scale wholesalers who import food from neighbouring countries and…
Read MorePoorest left behind by Philippines Typhoon response
The huge humanitarian response in the aftermath of November’s super typhoon saved thousands of lives but three months on, the poorest coconut farmers, traders and fisherpeople are being left out of the recovery effort. More than one million families living in typhoon-hit areas of the Philippines were part of the thriving coconut industry but their source…
Read MoreOxfam accepts resignation of Scarlett Johansson
Oxfam has accepted Scarlett Johansson’s decision to step down after eight years as a Global Ambassador and we are grateful for her many contributions. While Oxfam respects the independence of our ambassadors, Ms. Johansson’s role promoting the company SodaStream is incompatible with her role as an Oxfam Global Ambassador. Oxfam believes that businesses, such as…
Read MoreStatement from Oxfam Canada’s Executive Director, Robert Fox
Oxfam does not support a boycott of trade with Israel nor do we support the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement or promote its objectives. Oxfam does oppose trade with Israeli settlements in the West Bank because, as recognized by the governments of Canada, the United States and Europe, these settlements are illegal under international…
Read MoreNorthern Mali on the brink of a new food crisis
Bamako, Mali: Ahead of the Sahel Appeal to be launched by the United Nations on the 3rd February 2014 in Rome, 11 humanitarian agencies warn that northern Mali is set to face another serious food crisis unless funds are rapidly mobilized. More than 800,000 people need immediate food assistance, and across the country three million…
Read MoreCommunities in eastern Congo not any safer despite M23 defeat
A new Oxfam report, In the Balance, reveals that large swathes of the eastern provinces of North and South Kivu remain under the control of various armed groups, many that have expanded into security vacuums left when the Congolese armed forces turned their attention to the M23. Military operations against armed groups run the risk…
Read MoreNGOs welcome ceasefire agreement in South Sudan, reaffirm their commitment to help all populations in need of assistance
“We call upon all parties to the conflict to allow unimpeded humanitarian access, and to ensure the safety and freedom of movement of our staff.” Caroline Boyd Medair’s Country Director Juba, South Sudan – Fifty-five major humanitarian non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in South Sudan have expressed their deep concern about the current humanitarian situation…
Read MoreOxfam Canada reacts to GoC pledge of additional humanitarian aid in Syrian conflict
In response to Prime Minister Harper's announcement of additional humanitarian support to the Syrian people during his visit to the Za'atari refugee camp in Jordan, Oxfam Canada's Executive Director Robert Fox said: "Oxfam Canada welcomes Prime Minister Harper's pledge of additional support for Syrians fleeing the violence that rages on in their country. On top…
Read MoreDespite ceasefire, South Sudanese refugees and Ugandan host communities struggle with mounting risks
While yesterday’s ceasefire is a sign of political progress, efforts to support the more than 50,000 South Sudanese refugees in Uganda remain grossly under resourced, and host communities are being pushed to the breaking point, Oxfam warned today. In Northern Uganda’s Arua and Adjumani districts, more than 1,000 South Sudanese refugees—mostly women and children—arrive every…
Read MoreOxfam Reaction to Ceasefire in South Sudan
Reacting to news of this afternoon's ceasefire agreement between The Government of South Sudan and Riek Machar's opposition forces, José Barahona, Oxfam's County Director for South Sudan, said: "The world's newest nation, plagued by conflict for the past month, has today been given a second chance. With the cessation of hostilities, the focus must now…
Read MoreGeneva II offers best chance for a political solution to Syria Crisis: Must start with commitment to halt violence and improve humanitarian situation
"We need to see an immediate halt to the violence, which is tearing Syria apart, and concrete steps for improving the humanitarian situation." Shaheen Chughtai, Oxfam’s advisor on humanitarian and security issues The Geneva II Conference, which opens today, must deliver real change in the lives of ordinary Syrians, says the worldwide development organization…
Read MoreRigged rules mean economic growth increasingly “winner takes all” for rich elites all over world
Wealthy elites have co-opted political power to rig the rules of the economic game, undermining democracy and creating a world where the 85 richest people own the wealth of half of the world’s population, worldwide development organization Oxfam warns in a report published today. Working For the Few, published ahead of this week’s World…
Read MoreStorms wreak havoc in typhoon-hit Philippines
Thousands of people have been evacuated from collapsed tents and fragile makeshift shelters or are living in flooded shelters in disaster hit areas of the Philippines after the six month rainy season turned into vicious storms this week. November’s Typhoon Haiyan left more than 4 million people homeless and in need of shelter. Families have…
Read MoreSafety nets unravelling and scores falling into debt to reach safety in South Sudan conflict
Civilians fleeing from conflict in South Sudan are spiralling into debt and leaving behind important assets in their desperate search for safety. Aid agency Oxfam fears the loss of property and precious possessions like livestock and crops will shatter people's future ability to get back on their feet. Nearly half a million people have been…
Read MoreGood Enough to Eat? How Countries Line Up at the Global Food Table
Oxfam has released Good Enough to Eat – a global food index that looks at whether people have enough to eat, food quality, affordability, and dietary health in 125 countries. Oxfam’s research shows the Netherlands has the world’s most plentiful, nutritious, healthy and affordable diet, with France and Switzerland in second place. Chad came in…
Read MoreAid to Syria: States must give generously at Kuwait Conference
New analysis shows Middle East states, the UK, US and Canada exceeding their fair share in humanitarian aid but Russia and Japan are trailing behind. There is no room for donor fatigue at the Kuwait Conference and states must make strong commitments to fund the humanitarian response to the Syria Crisis, and support neighbouring countries…
Read MoreOwning the future: Haitians taking the lead in reconstruction
Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Four years have passed from the tragic earthquake that killed over 200.000 people and left Haiti in one of the worst crisis of recent times. Although much remains to be done, international aid agency Oxfam acknowledges that there have been positive strides towards reconstruction and development. While recognizing positive efforts on behalf of…
Read MoreMediation talks critical to end escalating conflict and humanitarian crisis in South Sudan
Ottawa – Extreme violence and other human rights abuses in South Sudan must cease immediately as direct mediation talks between leaders of conflicting parties begin in Ethiopia, Oxfam has said. Since violence broke out on 15 December 2013, over a thousand civilians have been killed and almost 200,000 have fled their homes to the bush…
Read MoreTwenty-five organizations call on Canadian companies to sign Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh
Twenty-five human rights, faith, women’s, teacher, student, community, overseas development and trade union organizations have signed an Open Letter calling on Canadian retailers and brands to sign the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh. To date, only one Canadian company, Loblaw (owner of Joe Fresh), has signed the Accord. The companies to which…
Read MoreOxfam says that more needs to be done to help prepare people for disasters, as it marks its 40th year of working in Pakistan
Oxfam is calling for more investment to go into preparing people for floods and other disasters in Pakistan as it marks its 40th year of working in the country this week. Since 2010, floods have ravaged the country and areas such as Sindh and Punjab have been continually hit, meaning that the same vulnerable people…
Read MoreSnowstorm in Lebanon beginning of winter misery for thousands of Syrian refugees
Oxfam appeal to help refugees more important than ever The severe snowstorm this week in Lebanon is just the beginning of the winter misery for the hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees struggling to combat the bitterly cold and wet conditions. Oxfam Canada's ongoing Syrian refugee crisis appeal is now more urgent than ever –…
Read MoreOxfam starts distributing 400 tons of rice seed to farmers in Philippines
Oxfam will start distributing 400 tonnes of rice seeds in six rural municipalities south of Tacloban today to help farmers win their 'race against time' to avoid missing the next growing season. The distributions will last for a week. "We have a critical window to get farmers the seed they need so they can harvest…
Read MoreOxfam’s response to the death of Nelson Mandela
Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of Oxfam International "My direct contact with President Nelson Mandela was in the context of helping Burundian women to participate in the Arusha peace process. Madiba met Burundi women peace activists and signaled to the negotiators the importance of an inclusive process for a just, peaceful and prosperous future. We honor…
Read MoreCanadian Unions Donate Generously to Typhoon Haiyan Relief
Canada’s leading unions show solidarity with Filipino membership, give generously to typhoon relief Canada’s leading unions are giving generously to support the over 14 million people affected by Typhoon Haiyan – a powerful storm that struck the Philippines on November 8th. “We applaud Canadian unions for their solidarity and support to help those affected by…
Read MoreHumanitarian Coalition Invited to Receive Typhoon Haiyan Donations at DFATD Charity Gala
(Ottawa) – The Humanitarian Coalition is pleased to announce that it will be represented at this year’s Art of Giving Gala hosted by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD) as the main recipient organization for Typhoon Haiyan donations. The second edition of this high-profile event will be held on Friday, November 29…
Read MoreMassive public pressure needed for effective global climate deal
Only massive public pressure can rescue a climate deal, warned Oxfam today, as the Warsaw negotiations drew to a close after a fortnight of farce and fiasco. Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of Oxfam said: “The Warsaw talks opened amidst the devastation of Typhoon Haiyan. It is a warning of what climate change could mean for…
Read MoreDebt levels spiraling out of control as refugees from Syria slip further into poverty
Survey of refugees tells of children missing education and adults fearing they may never work again – or be able to pay back money they owe A new survey of more than 1500 people has given one of the clearest pictures yet of the harsh economic struggle facing refugees who have fled from Syria to…
Read MoreTime running out to help rice farmers in areas of the Philippines devastated by typhoon Haiyan
Millions of people in the Philippines will go hungry in the coming months if rice farmers don’t receive urgent assistance after typhoon Haiyan wiped out a third of the countries rice growing areas, Oxfam warns today. Rice crops harvests in the five regions most affected by the disaster have been decimated and missing the next…
Read MoreNGOs, social movements walk out of Warsaw climate talks
“At the Warsaw Conference, rich country governments have come with nothing to offer.” Enough is enough. We have said we stand in solidarity with the millions impacted by Typhoon Haiyan, and with all climate impacted people. Our solidarity compels us to tell the truth about COP 19 – the Warsaw Climate Conference. The Warsaw Climate…
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