Oxfam reaction to Israel’s banning of UNRWA
In reaction to the Knesset passing a law banning UNRWA from operating in areas under Israel’s control, Sally Abi Khalil, Oxfam Regional Director in the Middle East and North Africa said: “Israel has bombed Palestinians to death, maimed them, starved them, and is now ridding them of their biggest lifeline of aid. Piece by piece,…
Read MoreBillionaires emit more carbon pollution in 90 minutes than the average person does in a lifetime
Fifty of the world’s richest billionaires on average produce more carbon through their investments, private jets and yachts in just over an hour and a half than the average person does in their entire lifetime, a new Oxfam report reveals today. The first-of-its-kind study, “Carbon Inequality Kills,” tracks the emissions from private jets, yachts and…
Read MoreOxfam Canada’s statement in support of $10 a Day Early Learning and Child Care
Oxfam Canada is concerned about recent protests by a small group of for-profit child care operators in Ontario attempting to halt and reverse the significant progress made since the introduction of the $ 10 a Day plan. “Thousands of families have benefited from the $10 a Day plan, and many more want to be have…
Read MoreOxfam condemns killing of water engineers in Gaza
Oxfam condemns in the strongest terms the killing of four water engineers and workers in Gaza today from the Khuzaa municipality who were working with our strategic partner the Coastal Municipalities Water Utility (CMWU). The four men were killed on their way to conduct repairs to water infrastructure in Khuzaa, east of Khan Younis. Despite…
Read MoreUp to 21,000 people are dying each day from conflict-fuelled hunger around the world
On World Food Day, hunger has reached an all-time high exposing the flaws in global peacebuilding and conflict recovery efforts. Between 7,000 to as many as 21,000 people are likely dying each day from hunger in countries impacted by conflict, according to a new Oxfam report published on World Food Day. The report, Food Wars,…
Read MoreOxfam and aid organizations warn of dramatic escalation of humanitarian catastrophe following further mass forced displacement of civilians in northern Gaza
Israel’s new displacement orders in northern Gaza threaten to force civilians into ever-shrinking areas and endanger aid operations Israel issued new mass displacement orders targeting the remaining Palestinians of the northern Gaza Strip, ordering them to leave to the south. This move will worsen the already dire humanitarian situation in the north and has prevented…
Read MoreThe Humanitarian Coalition launches urgent appeal for Lebanon – Government of Canada will match donations
Ottawa, 9 October 2024 – As the humanitarian situation in Lebanon continues to deteriorate rapidly —with more than 2,000 people killed, more than 9,800 injured and an estimated one million people fleeing violence—the Humanitarian Coalition, comprised of 12 of Canada’s largest aid organizations, has launched an urgent appeal for donations to respond to the escalating…
Read MoreLebanon struggles to cope as over a million people flee Israel’s military invasion – Oxfam
The Lebanese authorities, communities and humanitarian agencies are struggling to shelter and provide the necessities of life to over one million people fleeing Israel’s airstrikes and invasion to the south, Oxfam said today. Oxfam is working with local partners in Lebanon and alongside other aid agencies as part of the government’s humanitarian response plan following…
Read MoreIsraeli military kills more women and children in Gaza than any conflict this year
Israeli explosive weapons hit civilian infrastructure in Gaza – including schools, hospitals and aid distribution points – once every three hours. More women and children have been killed in Gaza by the Israeli military over the past year than the equivalent period of any other conflict over the past two decades, new Oxfam analysis has…
Read MoreOXFAM RESPONDS TO LEBANON CRISIS
Oxfam is responding to the escalating crisis in Lebanon, providing essential support to the hundreds of thousands of people who have been forced to flee as Israeli airstrikes bombard their homes and communities. The influx of internally displaced people, primarily from southern Lebanon, will quickly create disastrous conditions for local communities, beyond the ability of…
Read MoreFridays for Future Climate March
Oxfam Canada was proud to march alongside young climate activists, environmental advocates, and concerned Canadians in the Ottawa Climate March organized by Fridays for Future Ottawa. The #FridaysforFuture is a youth-led and organized movement that began in August 2018, after 15-year-old Greta Thunberg and other young activists sat in front of the Swedish parliament every…
Read MoreUN Security Council casts nearly all vetoes last decade on Syria, Palestine and Ukraine, robbing opportunities for peace
Ahead of the UN Summit for the Future, Oxfam calls for reform of the UN Security Council to stop the “Permanent Five” from being their own “judge and jury” The UN Security Council (UNSC) is failing people living in conflict, with Russia and the United States particularly responsible for abusing their veto power which is…
Read MoreReaction to UNGA’s overwhelming support for implementing the ICJ’s opinion on the illegality of Israel’s occupation
In response to the UNGA’s overwhelming support for a resolution providing a roadmap to implement the International Court of Justice’s recent opinion on the illegality of Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory, Oxfam’s Middle East and North Africa Director Sally Abi Khalil said: “This historic vote has shown that the international community overwhelmingly recognises its obligations…
Read MoreReturn of Parliament for the Fall Session
As Parliament returns, Oxfam Canada looks forward to working with Members of Parliament to prioritize the most pressing issues that affect the most vulnerable communities, both in Canada and globally. We are living in a time of unprecedented challenges: from deepening global hunger and rising income disparity to escalating climate change impacts, humanitarian emergencies, and…
Read MoreRisk of disease outbreak rises as Bangladesh floods devastate sanitation infrastructure – Oxfam
The risk of waterborne disease outbreak is rising as the water and sanitation system across 11 districts in Bangladesh have been submerged or disrupted by recent floods, said Oxfam today. Oxfam’s recent needs assessment survey across Fulgazi, Feni Sadar, Senbag, and Kobirhat areas in Feni and Noakhali, the hardest-hit districts, showed that nearly all shelters…
Read MoreOpen Letter: Civil society coalition urges Canada to stop all arms transfers to Israel
Dear Minister Joly, We, the undersigned civil society organizations, are deeply concerned at the enduring devastation in Gaza. Canada risks complicity in this humanitarian catastrophe through its ongoing transfer of military goods destined to Israel, exports which are incompatible with its obligations under the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). As organizations committed to upholding human rights,…
Read MoreREACTION: West Bank Military Offensive
In reaction to today’s Israeli raids across West Bank refugee camps, Oxfam MENA Regional Director Sally Abi Khalil said: “The latest Israeli military offensive in the West Bank overnight is deeply concerning, resulting in numerous possible violations of international humanitarian law. The systematic attacks against civilians – just as we have seen in Gaza over…
Read MoreBangladesh Floods: Affected Communities Look for Urgent Support as the Situation is Dire
The ongoing flash floods in Bangladesh, triggered by relentless heavy rainfall, overflowing rivers, and upstream water releases from India, have devastated 12 districts, leaving millions stranded and in desperate need of aid. According to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, with nearly 5 million people affected and at least 18 lives lost, the situation…
Read MoreOxfam Canada at Capital Pride
Oxfam Canada is proud to participate in Capital Pride this coming weekend, celebrating diversity, inclusion, and the fundamental human rights of all people. Our commitment to these values is unwavering, and we stand alongside communities striving for justice and equality both here in Canada and around the world. In this spirit, we also express our…
Read MoreWorld Humanitarian Day
Today, on World Humanitarian Day, Oxfam Canada stands in solidarity with humanitarian workers who risk their lives to provide life-saving aid and support to people affected by crises, conflict and disasters. It has been 21 years since a suicide bomb attack was carried out on the United Nations (UN) headquarters in Baghdad, Iraq, resulting in…
Read MoreDRC: Oxfam responds to Mpox outbreak in Equateur as it reaches alarming levels
The MPox epidemic has reached alarming levels in the Democratic Republic of Congo, as more than 15,000 cases and over 540 deaths have been reported across the country since the beginning of the year. Oxfam is mounting an immediate response particularly in the most affected province of Equateur. Justine Tossou Gomis, Oxfam’s Country Director for…
Read MoreSouth Sudan: People in Pibor County resort to eating wild vegetables as hunger crisis escalates
Upcoming rain season to reach record-high levels and will likely decimate crops People in South Sudan’s Pibor county are forced to survive on wild vegetables, and desert dates as the number of people dying from starvation rises. With torrential rains halting aid flights, the situation could get much worse quickly, warned Oxfam today. More than…
Read MoreOxfam reaction to the Rio de Janeiro G20 Ministerial Declaration on International Tax Cooperation: “this is serious global progress”
Responding to the Rio de Janeiro G20 Ministerial Declaration on International Tax Cooperation published today, Oxfam International’s Tax Policy Lead Susana Ruiz, said: “This is serious global progress —for the first time in history, the world’s largest economies have agreed to cooperate to tax the ultra-rich. Finally, the richest people are being told they can’t…
Read MoreTop 1 percent bags over $40 trillion in new wealth during past decade as taxes on the rich reach historic lows
The richest 1 percent have amassed $42 trillion in new wealth over the past decade, nearly 34 times more than the entire bottom 50 percent of the world’s population, according to new analysis by Oxfam today ahead of the third meeting of G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The…
Read MoreOxfam Calls for Immediate Action to Safeguard Human Rights and Freedom of Speech Amid Quota Reform Protests in Bangladesh
We extend our heartfelt condolences to the affected families of the violence which took place during the Quota Reform Protests, which has resulted in tragic deaths and injuries. The protests highlight significant human rights violations. In these challenging times, prioritizing human rights, justice, and equality is essential. Oxfam calls for immediate action to protect the…
Read MoreOXFAM REACTION TO THE UN STATE OF FOOD SECURITY AND NUTRITION REPORT 2024
In reaction to the UN’s 2024 edition of “The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World” (SOFI) report, which showed that one out of 11 people in the world, and one out of every five in Africa, may have faced hunger in 2023, Eric Munoz, Oxfam’s food policy expert, said: “Global hunger remains stuck…
Read MoreOxfam reaction to the ICJ ruling on Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian Territory
Reacting to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) advisory opinion on legal consequences arising from the policies and practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, Sally Abi Khalil, Oxfam’s Regional Director for the Middle East said: “This is an historic ruling that lays bare Israel’s criminal actions that have denied rights,…
Read MoreIsrael using water as weapon of war as Gaza supply plummets by 94%, creating deadly health catastrophe: Oxfam
A new Oxfam report reveals how Israel has been systematically weaponizing water against Palestinians in Gaza, showing disregard for human life and international law. The report, Water War Crimes, finds that Israel’s cutting of external water supply, systematic destruction of water facilities and deliberate aid obstruction have reduced the amount of water available in Gaza…
Read MoreOxfam reaction to Israel’s attack on Al-Mawasi “safe zone”
In response to the latest Israeli attack on the Al-Mawasi so-called “safe zone,” as described by Israel, Oxfam’s Regional Director for the Middle East, Sally Abi Khalil, said: “Once again, we are witnessing the absolute disregard Israel has for Palestinian lives and international law. “This heinous approach to warfare, dropping bombs onto tents sheltering displaced…
Read MoreIsrael breaches International Humanitarian Law by forcing 250,000 Palestinians in Gaza into “death trap”
Israel’s latest evacuation order, calling for a quarter of a million people to leave Eastern Khan Younis, violates the Geneva Convention and is in breach of multiple provisions of International Humanitarian Law because it has failed to provide safe passage or a safe final destination where basic humanitarian needs can be met, Oxfam said today.…
Read MoreW7 Canada Statement on the Absence of ‘Safe Abortion’ from the G7 Leaders’ Communiqué
On June 14th, the G7 leaders released their communique following their summit in Apulia, Italy. The communique’s gender equality section rightly raises concerns about the growing “rollback of rights of women, girls and LGBTQIA+ people around the world” and includes a commitment to promote and protect these rights. The text also commits to “universal access…
Read MorePeople Fled Floods and Droughts 8M times in Ten Worst-Hit Countries Last Year – over twice that of a decade ago
Hunger nearly tripled in five of these countries over the same period. Water-related disasters forced people to flee from their homes nearly eight million separate times in 10 of the world’s worst-hit countries last year – with many forced to move multiple times, a 120% increase compared to a decade ago, said Oxfam today. On…
Read MoreWhile Parliament Rests for the Summer, Gaza Bleeds: Canadian Humanitarian Agencies Call for Action
As Parliament breaks for summer, Canada’s leading humanitarian agencies held a press conference today on Parliament Hill to call on the Government of Canada to take urgent and decisive actions to press for an end to the war in Gaza and prevent further mass atrocities. Since October, we have witnessed the death of tens of…
Read MoreOxfam reaction to the G7 communiqué
Responding to the G7 communiqué published today, Oxfam International’s Head of Inequality Policy Max Lawson, said: “Talking about taxing the super-rich for the first time in their 50-year history was the thin silver lining in a big black cloud of G7 failure for people living in poverty.” On taxing the super-rich: “For the first time…
Read MoreLess than 3% of G7 military spending could help end global hunger and solve Global South debt crisis
With funds equivalent to just 2.9 percent ($35.7 billion) of their combined annual military spending, Group of Seven (G7) countries could help end world hunger and solve the debt crisis in the Global South, reveals new Oxfam analysis ahead of the G7 Summit in Borgo Egnazia, Italy. Eradicating world hunger in all its forms would…
Read MoreReaction to UNSC’s Gaza ceasefire resolution
In response to the UN Security Council’s ceasefire resolution, Oxfam’s Regional Director for the Middle East, Sally Abi Khalil, said: “After eight months of brutal war, it is a long overdue and promising step to see the Council speak with one voice calling for an immediate, full and complete ceasefire, the release of hostages and…
Read MoreOxfam’s reaction to Nuseirat operation that released four hostages and killed at least 274 Palestinians
In response to Israel’s operation in Nuseirat over the weekend, Oxfam’s Regional Director for the Middle East Sally Abi Khalil said: “We welcome the news that four hostages are back with their families after an eight month-long ordeal in captivity, under constant Israeli bombardment. Taking hostages is a serious violation of international humanitarian law and…
Read MoreFamine risk increases as Israel makes Gaza aid response virtually impossible – Oxfam
Two-thirds of population now squeezed into less than a fifth of the Gaza Strip Israel’s relentless air and land bombardment and deliberate obstruction of the humanitarian response is making it virtually impossible for aid agencies to reach trapped, starved civilians in Gaza, Oxfam said today, as the latest ceasefire deal negotiations continue. A lethal combination…
Read MoreCyclone Remal claims lives, Oxfam responds with relief in coastal Bangladesh
Oxfam and its partners are responding to the needs of the people in coastal areas of Bangladesh where Cyclone Remal has left a trail of destruction. Severe cyclonic storm Remal made landfall on Sunday, May 26, with windspeeds of 135km per hour between the coasts of India and Bangladesh. In Bangladesh, loss of lives has…
Read MoreReaction to ICJ court ruling on South Africa seeking emergency halt to Israel’s offensive in Rafah
In reaction to today’s order from the International Court of Justice to South Africa’s case, which demanded Israel immediately halt its offensive in Rafah, Sally Abi-Khalil, Oxfam’s Regional Director for the Middle East said: “Oxfam welcomes the ICJ’s order as a critical intervention to stop Israel’s military onslaught on Rafah, which has displaced more than…
Read MoreWorld leaders fail to act as Israeli invasion of Rafah worsens humanitarian catastrophe
Joint statement signed by 20 NGOs. Despite repeated calls on Israel from heads of state, UN officials and humanitarian NGOs to refrain from expanding its ground offensive to Rafah, Israeli troops entered the governorate on May 7. Over 1.5 million people, including 600,000 children, are at serious risk; more than 450,000 Palestinians have fled Rafah…
Read MoreRafah invasion compounds lethal cocktail of over-crowding, sewage and hunger
Israeli attacks since October caused at least $210m worth of damage to Gaza’s water and sanitation infrastructure The destruction of critical water and sanitation infrastructure by the Israeli forces along with severe over-crowding, malnutrition and heat is pushing Gaza to the brink of a deadly epidemic outbreak, Oxfam warned today. The situation is further compounded…
Read MoreOxfam reaction to Rafah evacuation order
In reaction to Israel’s imminent invasion of Rafah, Sally Abi-Khalil, Oxfam’s Middle East and North Africa Regional Director said: “We are horrified by Israel’s order to evacuate around 100,000 people and what appears to be an impending invasion of Rafah, despite a universal plea from world leaders urging it to stop its continued, barbaric, onslaught. …
Read MoreCanadian civil society organizations join global call to end all arms transfers to Israel
The full cessation of weapons transfers to Israel is a necessary step towards a ceasefire and ensuring humanitarian access in Gaza. Ottawa, May 2, 2024 – Human rights and humanitarian organizations will unite on Parliament Hill on May 2, 2024 staging a powerful media stunt to call on Canada to stop sending arms to Israel.…
Read MoreOxfam reaction to the Global Report on Food Crises 2024
Today’s “Global Report on Food Crises” (GRFC), led by the Food Security Information Network (FSIN), says that 281.6 million people across 59 countries are now experiencing acute hunger – 24 million additional people over last year. Reacting to the report, Oxfam Global Food and Economic Security Lead, Emily Farr, said: “The global hunger crisis is…
Read MoreOxfam Canada Reacts to Budget 2024
Oxfam Canada welcomes the announcement today in Budget 2024 of $350 million over two years for international humanitarian assistance. In a world of increasing conflicts and crises, Canada’s life-saving assistance is needed more than ever. In line with the Feminist International Assistance Policy, this modest increase in our country’s humanitarian envelope will support gender transformative…
Read MoreOver 24 million people in Southern Africa face hunger, malnutrition and water scarcity due to extreme weather
Millions of people across Southern Africa are grappling with the dual crises of hunger and flooding. Over half of Malawi’s 19 million population, six million people in Zambia, over three million in Zimbabwe, and three million more in Mozambique are facing hunger. Meanwhile, in Mozambique’s capital, Maputo, floods wreaked havoc due to persistent heavy downpours…
Read MorePeople in northern Gaza forced to survive on 245 calories a day, less than a can of beans
Miniscule amount is less than 12% of average daily calorie needs Ottawa – People in northern Gaza have been forced to survive on an average of 245 calories a day – less than a can of fava beans – since January, as Israeli forces continue their military onslaught. Over 300,000 people are believed to still…
Read MoreTime is running out for international action to protect civilians and prevent atrocity crimes in Rafah, as UN Security Council resolution is ignored
RAMALLAH, 3 April 2024 – A week since the UN Security Council passed a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire, and days since the International Court of Justice issued additional provisional measures in South Africa’s genocide case against Israel, States must act urgently to ensure its enforcement and prevent atrocity crimes in Rafah as attacks intensify,…
Read MoreAs Yemen enters tenth year of war, militarization and economic crisis compound suffering
As Yemen enters its tenth year of war, its people face renewed airstrikes and a deepening economic crisis that risks pushing millions into starvation, Oxfam has warned today. Today marks nine years since the escalation of the conflict. A temporary UN-brokered truce expired in 2022, and whilst it has largely held, recent Houthi military activity…
Read MoreUN Security Council Adopts Ceasefire Resolution for Gaza, Oxfam Responds
In response to the UN Security Council’s call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, Oxfam’s UN Representative and Head of New York Office Brenda Mofya said: “We welcome the Security Council’s adoption of a ceasefire resolution so Palestinians in Gaza can have much-needed respite from the relentless and devastating Israeli violence and critical aid can…
Read MoreGlobal water crisis looms yet only one in four biggest food corporations reducing water use
Only 28 percent of the world’s most influential food and agriculture corporations report they are reducing their water withdrawals and just 23 percent say they are taking action to reduce water pollution. Oxfam’s new analysis of 350 corporations using World Benchmarking Alliance data comes ahead of World Water Day (March 22). The UN, which last year…
Read MoreGaza hunger figures “worst on record” – says Oxfam
In reaction to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report published today on Gaza stating that famine is imminent in Northern Gaza and, if Israel persists in its hostilities and restricting humanitarian access, there is a real risk of famine for the rest of the enclave, Sally Abi Khalil, Oxfam’s Middle East and North…
Read MoreIsrael government continues to block aid response despite ICJ genocide court ruling, says Oxfam
International community resorts to sea routes and air drops rather than challenge Israel for systemically undermining unfettered access of relief Israeli authorities have rejected a warehouse full of international aid including oxygen, incubators and Oxfam water and sanitation gear all of which is now stockpiled at Al Arish just 40 km away from the border…
Read MoreGaza: Airdrops and sea routes are no alternative to aid delivery by land
25 NGOs call on governments to prioritize ceasefire and ground-based humanitarian aid as deaths from malnutrition and disease rise Human rights and humanitarian organizations present on the ground in the Gaza Strip have reiterated since the start of the current escalation that the only way to meet the unprecedented humanitarian needs in the enclave is…
Read MoreTropical storm Filipo hits Mozambique
Millions of people have nothing left to eat but wild roots as they have lost their crops to repeated extreme weather Tropical storm Filipo has hit Mozambique today, leaving hundreds of thousands of people in urgent need of humanitarian support. The storm, which made landfall in Inhambane province in Mozambique, comes just a year after Cyclone Freddy ravaged several…
Read MoreOver six million people face hunger, malnutrition and water scarcity in Zambia
Oxfam warns that over six million people from farming families in Zambia are facing acute food shortages and malnutrition until next growing season, which is twelve months away, due to a severe drought, exacerbated by climate change and El Nino, which has caused massive crop failures for half of the nation’s “planted area”. The drought…
Read MoreOxfam Canada’s Statement on Canadian Aid Airdrops in Gaza
We welcome Canada’s commitment to delivering aid to the people in Gaza facing starvation and famine. However, the Government of Israel has a legal obligation to ensure aid reaches civilians in Gaza. Indiscriminate airdrops in overpopulated areas are not only symbolic and degrading; they risk harming people, undermining the existing aid architecture, and cannot ensure…
Read MoreCrisis in South Sudan: 300+ Share a single water Tap, Cholera Risk Soars
The influx of over half a million people fleeing Sudan’s conflict meant that transit centres in Renk – a border town in neighbouring South Sudan- are swelling with people four times their capacity, with more than 300 people sharing one water tap. The lack of clean water and sanitation is increasing the risk of cholera,…
Read More‘Golden Time’ harvest ravaged in northern Gaza amid concerns of hunger and starvation
Gaza farmers’ two-month-long “golden time” of agricultural production has been destroyed by Israel’s military bombing and sealing of northern Gaza, ruining the enclave’s richest farmlands which are one of its biggest sources of fruit and vegetables. With Israel’s actions also severely restricting humanitarian aid, the loss of local agricultural production is worsening malnutrition and hunger,…
Read MoreFeminist groups condemn Premier Smith’s threat to trans youth rights and medical care
We, the undersigned, strongly condemn the Government of Alberta’s planned changes to gender-affirming care, education, and sports in the province. These changes amount to an attack on trans people, and in particular trans youth. On January 31, 2024, the Premier of Alberta announced sweeping policy changes that will disproportionately impact trans, non-binary, and gender-diverse youth. The changes…
Read MoreConflict in North Kivu leaves 100,000 without water
More than 133,000 people who fled the fighting in North Kivu, in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), live in unimaginable conditions without one single toilet or water, posing serious consequences for their health and safety, warns Oxfam. Oxfam staff report that people are forced to pay US$0.40 to use the…
Read MoreTigray and Amhara hunger crisis: Oxfam sounds alarm as families take extreme measures to survive
Families still reeling from the aftermath of a two-year conflict in Tigray are now resorting to increasingly desperate measures to survive. The conflict and erratic rainfall throughout the north of the country has further exacerbated the planting season which threatens to plunge the region into deeper humanitarian catastrophe if nothing is done, warns Oxfam. Hareyat…
Read MoreOpen Letter: Civil society coalition urges Canada to stop arms transfers to Israel
Dear Minister Joly, We, the undersigned civil society organizations, express profound concerns about the legal and humanitarian implications of Canada’s transfer of weapon systems to the government of Israel. These concerns have been further amplified following the January 26th provisional ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Since the onset of Israel’s response to…
Read MoreUNRWA funding cuts threaten Palestinian lives in Gaza and region, say NGOs
As aid organisations, we are deeply concerned and outraged that some of the largest donors have united to suspend funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), the main aid provider for millions of Palestinians in Gaza and the region. This comes amid a rapidly worsening humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. The suspension of…
Read MoreReaction to ICJ court statement on South Africa’s case against Israel
In reaction to today’s statement by the International Court of Justice order to South Africa’s court case, which requests Israel to take all measures within its power to prevent and punish the commission of all acts in relation to the articles of the Genocide Convention, Sally Abi-Khalil, Oxfam Regional Director for the Middle East said:…
Read MoreCanadian humanitarian organizations join global open call to stop arms transfers to Israel and Palestinian armed groups
Today, Canadian humanitarian organizations working in Gaza, join an alliance of 16 global humanitarian and human rights organizations calling on all States – including Canada – to immediately halt the direct or indirect transfer of weapons, parts, and ammunition to Israel and Palestinian armed groups while there is a risk they are used to commit…
Read MoreSouthern African countries face “terrifying and overwhelming” cholera outbreak
Southern African countries face “terrifying and overwhelming” cholera outbreak as Covid19 cases begin to rise again, Oxfam warns. Southern African countries including Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe are facing an unprecedented surge of cholera cases, warns Oxfam. The situation could become uncontrollable and difficult to managed due to steady increase of Covid19 cases and the…
Read MoreWealth of five richest men doubles since 2020 as five billion people made poorer in “decade of division,” says Oxfam
January 15, 2024 (Ottawa) — Oxfam today released their Inequality Inc. report showing that people worldwide are working harder and longer hours, often for poverty wages in precarious and unsafe jobs. The wages of nearly 800 million workers have failed to keep up with inflation and they have lost $1.5 trillion over the last two years, equivalent…
Read MoreOxfam: Daily Death Rate In Gaza Higher Than Any Other Major 21st Century Conflict
Israeli military killing 250 Palestinians per day with many more lives at risk from hunger, disease and cold Israel’s military is killing Palestinians at an average rate of 250 people a day which massively exceeds the daily death toll of any other major conflict of recent years, Oxfam said today, as the escalation of hostilities…
Read MoreOxfam: UNSC’s failure to call for a ceasefire “utterly callous”
In reaction to the UN Security Council’s passing of a watered-down resolution instead of calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, Oxfam Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, Sally Abi-Khalil, said: “The failure to call for a ceasefire after five days of deliberate delays and dilutions of the resolution is incomprehensible and utterly…
Read MoreOxfam reaction to the IPC food security figures for Gaza
In reaction to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report published today on Gaza warning of a risk of famine if intense hostilities and restricted humanitarian access persist or worsen, Sally Abi Khalil, Oxfam’s Middle East and North Africa Regional Director, said: “Gaza’s shocking descent into starvation was so predictable as to be premeditated;…
Read MoreCOP28 outcome misses the mark on justice for the majority of the world
In response to the outcome of COP28, Oxfam International’s Climate Change Policy Lead Nafkote Dabi said: “Everyone fighting against the global climate crisis has little to celebrate from this disappointing COP28. Its final outcome is grossly inadequate. Oil, coal and gas won again, but they had to struggle harder to do so and their era…
Read MoreHumanitarian organizations welcome Canada’s vote in favour of a ceasefire
For immediate release Montreal/Ottawa/Toronto, December 12, 2023 – Canada’s position on a ceasefire in Gaza is finally moving forward. In addition to calling for the immediate and unconditional release of all remaining hostages, Justin Trudeau today expressed Canada’s support for a ceasefire, heeding the calls of millions of Canadians. We welcome this change in Canada’s…
Read MoreEast Africa floods wipe out harvests leaving four million hungry
East Africa’s floods decimate almost entire rainy season harvest leaving over four million people with no food or income As COP28 comes to a close, rich polluting nations must accelerate loss and damage compensation for countries hit hardest by climate change Six months after a historic five-season drought, massive floods have inundated vast swaths of…
Read MoreUN Security Council must reconvene and pass resolution for ceasefire: aid agencies
We are appalled at the failure of the UN Security Council to authorise a resolution demanding a humanitarian ceasefire and unconditional release of hostages held in Gaza. If implemented, this would have provided much needed respite for civilians in Gaza who are under constant bombardment. This was a missed opportunity to stop the violence. We…
Read MoreInternational community complicit in Gaza catastrophe
Abject failure to forge ceasefire means international community complicit in unfolding catastrophe in Gaza The Israeli military onslaught in southern Gaza is causing destruction, danger, and civilian terror and suffering at such a scale that makes any humanitarian response impossible across the entire enclave, says Oxfam. The nightmare is unfolding in full view of the…
Read MoreJoint Statement from Oxfam Canada and Oxfam Québec
The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau Prime Minister of Canada Hill Office House of Commons Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6 December 1, 2023 Dear Prime Minister, On behalf of Oxfam Canada and Québec, and the 95,000 people who have signed our petition, we ask you to mobilize the international community to demand that the humanitarian truce initiated…
Read MoreHumanitarian pause ends: Oxfam reaction to renewal of hostilities in Gaza
Reacting to news today that the humanitarian pause agreed between the Government of Israel and Hamas has ended, with renewed hostilities, Oxfam Humanitarian Director Marta Valdes Garcia said: “While Oxfam welcomes the release of Israeli and foreign national hostages back to their families during the pause, and the reuniting of Palestinian prisoners and detainees in…
Read MoreBabies dying from preventable causes in besieged Gaza – Oxfam
Premature births increase by up to a third in the last month The collapse of Gaza’s hospitals and healthcare system, coupled with the catastrophic living conditions, is resulting in babies dying of preventable causes, Oxfam warned today. Newborns up to three months old are dying of diarrhoea, hypothermia, dehydration and infection as mothers have little…
Read MoreGaza humanitarian pause “a band-aid to a bleeding wound”: Oxfam
In response to the announcement of the release of hostages and prisoners, and of the four-day humanitarian pause to escalated hostilities in Gaza, agreed today between Hamas and the Government of Israel, Oxfam’s Humanitarian Director, Marta Valdez Garcia, said: “We welcome the fact that a number of the Israeli and foreign national hostages will be…
Read MoreRichest 1% emit as much planet-heating pollution as two-thirds of humanity
The super rich produce as much carbon pollution as the poorest five billion people on earth. Oxfam is calling on the federal government to implement a billionaire wealth tax and a windfall profits tax. November 19, 2023 (Ottawa) — Oxfam today released the report Climate Equality: A Planet for the 99% showing how the impacts…
Read MoreGaza water supply is just 17 percent of pre-siege levels, despite new fuel announcement
Total bottled water delivered into Gaza so far is equivalent to just 1.6 liters per person The amount of water available to people trapped in Gaza will still be just 17 per cent of pre-siege levels, despite the Israeli government announcing that two trucks of fuel will now be allowed in each day, Oxfam warned.…
Read MoreFeminist Organizations Joint Appeal for Immediate Ceasefire in Gaza
November 17, 2023 Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau Prime Minister of Canada Office of the Prime Minister 80 Wellington Street Ottawa, ON K1A 0A2 Subject: Feminist Organizations Joint Appeal for Immediate Ceasefire in Gaza Dear Prime Minister Trudeau, We, the undersigned, a coalition of feminist, gender justice, and human rights organizations, come together to add…
Read MoreFuel has run out, stalling humanitarian operations in Gaza, warn aid agencies
Aid agencies operating in Gaza issued an urgent warning that fuel reserves critical for aid operations have run out, bringing the limited assistance delivered in Gaza in recent weeks to a complete halt. On Monday 13 November 2023, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs…
Read MoreHalf a million civilians caught in northern Gaza “siege within a siege” – Oxfam
Oxfam is gravely concerned for the lives of around 500,000 Palestinians, alongside the more than 200 Israeli and other national hostages, currently trapped in a “siege within a siege” in northern Gaza. Israeli forces have imposed a near-complete stranglehold on Gaza City and the northern region, effectively cutting the enclave in half from the border…
Read MoreStarvation as weapon of war being used against Gaza civilians – Oxfam
Just 2 per cent of usual food delivered to Gaza since siege imposed Starvation is being used as a weapon of war against Gaza civilians, Oxfam said today as it renewed its call for food, water, fuel and other essentials to be allowed to enter. The international agency analysed UN data and found that just…
Read MoreGazans face threat of cholera and other infectious diseases, says Oxfam
Food, water, power all nearing exhaustion; Oxfam partners begin small distribution but scale of need and logistical chaos pose massive challenges to humanitarian response Gaza is facing an unprecedented health crisis that risks an outbreak of deadly infectious diseases, like cholera, because water and sanitation services have completely broken down, says Oxfam. All five of…
Read MoreOxfam reaction to Israel’s order for northern Gaza to evacuate
Responding to the Israeli government’s order for northern Gaza to evacuate, Amitabh Behar, Oxfam International Executive Director said: “The world can see that this evacuation order is both utterly inhumane and impossible; the Israeli government must rescind it immediately. We implore the international community to use its utmost influence to intervene – there are hospitals…
Read MoreSiege on Gaza will be a humanitarian catastrophe – Oxfam
Oxfam is warning that a total siege on Gaza will lead to a humanitarian catastrophe. Yesterday’s announcement from the Israeli government, in response to the appalling attacks by Hamas, will stop all food, water, electricity and fuel from reaching an already vulnerable population. The siege adds to the ongoing blockade of Gaza, which has endured…
Read MoreExtreme hunger on the rise in Yemen, one year from end of ceasefire: Oxfam
Over a third of the Yemeni population is facing extreme hunger, with child malnutrition rates amongst the highest in the world. One year after the temporary peace agreement’s expiration, Oxfam calls on all sides of the conflict to strive for a sustainable and inclusive peace and for cuts to the international aid effort to be…
Read MoreCampaign action calls on Aritzia to lift garment workers out of poverty
Today, Oxfam Canada and partners are organizing an event in Vancouver to raise awareness about the difficulties faced by Cambodian garment workers and to encourage reflection on these issues. To participate, people can visit the Aritzia store at 1100 Robson St. from 3 to 5 p.m. PDT. Sewing machines will be set up outside the…
Read MoreRich nations paid less than 5 percent of the $53.3 billion East Africa needs to confront the climate crisis
Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia and South Sudan have incurred $7.4bn of livestock losses alone as a result of climate change Despite being largely responsible for the worsening climate crisis in East Africa, rich nations paid Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and South Sudan just $2.4 billion in climate-related development finance in 2021, in stark contrast to the $53.3…
Read More1 in 5 water boreholes we dig now is dry, unfit for humans to drink : OXFAM
Climate-induced water insecurity poses one of the biggest threats to humanity and will lead to more hunger, disease and displacement Oxfam water engineers are having to drill deeper, more expensive and harder-to-maintain water boreholes used by some of the poorest communities around the world, more often now only to find dry, depleted or polluted reservoirs.…
Read MoreBangladesh’s Monsoon: At least five killed in Cox’s Bazar camps due to flooding and landslides– Oxfam responds
At least five people were killed in the Cox’s Bazar Rohingya camps today, as the monsoon floods that hit Southern Bangladesh earlier this month caused severe landslides and left a trail of destruction. Oxfam is mounting a response to address the immediate needs of the most affected people. “Nearly 300,000 people across 60 union parishads…
Read MoreOxfam Canada launches new program to support care infrastructure and gender equality in Kenya
Thanks to a contribution of $4.9 million from the Government of Canada and almost $231,000 from Oxfam Canada, more than 5,916 people in Kenya (including 4,451 women) will be directly supported through the Time to Care project. The project will be implemented by Oxfam Canada in partnership with Oxfam in Kenya, Youth Alive! Kenya, Kenya…
Read MoreOxfam reaction to the UN Global Hunger Report – ending hunger is possible but requires bold collective action
In reaction to FAO’s new “The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2023” report, stating that up to 783 million people faced hunger in 2022, and that 600 million persons will be chronically undernourished in 2030, Hanna Saarinen, Oxfam International Food Policy Lead said: “It is unforgivable for governments to watch billions…
Read MoreBig business’ windfall profits rocket to “obscene” $1 trillion a year amid cost-of-living crisis; Oxfam and ActionAid renew call for windfall taxes
722 mega–corporations raked in $1 trillion a year in windfall profits in 2021 and 2022. A windfall tax of 90 per cent on last years’ windfall profits could generate $941 billion — money that now could be used to tackle poverty and climate change. While profits soared, one billion workers across 50 countries took a…
Read MoreStatement of Solidarity: Oxfam Condemns the Killing of Union Leader, Shahidul Islam
Oxfam stands in solidarity with the Bangladesh Garment and Industrial Workers Federation (BGIWF), trade union leaders and all human rights defenders who stand up for workers’ rights and protect human rights. Oxfam learned of the horrific news of the brutal murder of Shahidul Islam, a union leader who was beaten to death on June 25th…
Read MoreAid for Afghanistan Coalition Statement: The Passage of Bill C-41, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and to make consequential amendments to other Acts
The Aid for Afghanistan Coalition welcomes the adoption of Bill C-41 as a first step in enabling Canadian aid organizations to provide crucial humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan and other similar contexts. This legislation is needed to give Canadian aid organizations a path forward to ensure those who are in need of assistance receive it, regardless…
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