Julie 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,…
Read MoreCanadian aid agencies call for a “New Deal” for Syria’s refugees
The international community must agree to a bold new deal for Syria’s refugees if it is serious about tackling the largest humanitarian crisis since World War II, seven aid agencies warned today in a new report. With no end to the conflict in sight and no prospect of safe return home, the new deal must…
Read MoreOxfam welcomes new ministers of Foreign Affairs, International Development and the Francophonie, and International Trade
Le message en français suit. “Oxfam welcomes Hon. Stéphane Dion, Hon. Marie-Claude Bibeau and Hon. Chrystia Freeland as the new Ministers of Foreign Affairs, International Development and the Francophonie, and International Trade. We look forward to working with them and their teams to end extreme poverty and inequality of all kinds,” says Julie Delahanty, Executive…
Read MoreNaomi Klein among celebrities joining #eyesonParis climate campaign for Oxfam
Climate activist and best-selling Canadian author Naomi Klein is among those who have shared an eyes-only selfie on social media to tell world leaders they have their #eyesonParis for action on climate change. Klein said: “In Paris, we need leaders with the courage to steer us off the path of increased warming and poverty and…
Read MoreCyclone Chapala hits war-torn Yemen
As Cyclone Chapala hits war-torn Yemen, Oxfam Country Director in the country, Sajjad Mohamed Sajid said: "It's a humanitarian disaster on top of another. In a year of the Super El Niño, a rare cyclone has left conflict ravaged Yemen facing a double disaster as Cyclone Chapala promises a decade's worth of rain in Yemen…
Read MoreOxfam comments on Canada’s plan to welcome 25,000 refugees by year end
In response to the Government of Canada’s plan to resettle 25,000 Syrian and Iraqi refugees by year end, Oxfam Canada’s Humanitarian Manager, Ann Witteveen, said: “Canada is a prosperous country, with a strong tradition of welcoming asylum seekers. In its report Fair Share: Solidarity with Syrians, Oxfam found that Canada had been generous compared to…
Read MoreOxfam teams present in South Asia, ready to respond to powerful earthquake
A strong earthquake in northern Afghanistan shook buildings from Kabul to Delhi today, cutting power and communications in some areas and causing a steadily rising number of deaths, mainly in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Oxfam teams are present in all the affected south Asian countries. They are gathering all possible information as of this minute. Oxfam’s…
Read MoreExtreme hunger risk in South Sudan as fighting blocks food aid: REPORT
Juba, South Sudan – In response to the latest Integrated Phase Classification (IPC), or food security analysis for South Sudan, Oxfam South Sudan Country Director, Zlatko Gegic said: “Almost four million people in South Sudan are severely hungry – nearly twice as many compared to this time last year, a clear testament to the devastation…
Read MoreFighting gender inequality essential to curbing growing wealth gap, IMF report shows
Oxfam applauds today’s report by the International Monetary Fund, which argues that tackling gender inequality is not only an objective in itself, it's a key part of reducing the huge wealth gap between the rich and the poor. Julie Delahanty, Executive Director of Oxfam Canada, said: “Today’s IMF report shows that working toward women’s economic…
Read MoreOxfam Canada Welcomes the Newly Elected Government
Oxfam Canada welcomes the new government’s commitment to restoring Canada’s role in the world. We are in a pivotal moment for Canada to show leadership in creating a more sustainable and equitable world. The new Sustainable Development Goals provide a framework for addressing gender inequality and poverty, at home and abroad, and world leaders will have…
Read MoreOpen Letter to Permanent Representatives to the UN on Women, Peace and Security
The United Nations’ Open Debate and High Level Review on Women, Peace and Security is just around the corner. Oxfam and other civil society partners are calling for governments to make strong statements and commitments to advance sustainable peace. This can only be achieved by promoting and respecting women and girls’ human rights’ and meaningfully…
Read MoreUtterly inadequate international response for Syrians both in and outside borders, says new Oxfam report
The international community is proving utterly inadequate in helping Syrians both inside and outside their country. Oxfam’s damning verdict is in a new report today Solidarity with Syrians that analyses the “fair shares” of rich and powerful countries to provide money, resettlement places for refugees and leadership to end the bloodshed. The report coincides with…
Read MoreOxfam criticizes ‘toothless’ OECD Tax Package
Ottawa – The OECD’s Tax Package, released in Paris today, will not stop corporate tax dodgers cheating poor countries out of billions of dollars of tax revenues, says Oxfam. The Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) Action Plan outlines 15 measures aimed at tackling aggressive tax avoidance by multinational companies. Brittany Lambert, Oxfam Canada’s Senior…
Read MoreOxfam applauds World Bank’s rejection of trickle-down economics, and recognition of the huge inequality challenge
Oxfam is encouraged by World Bank President Dr. Jim Yong Kim’s rejection of trickle-down economics and his clear stance on the enormous challenge inequality poses across the world. Jim Kim’s speech at the US Institute of Peace today comes just as Oxfam is warning of 200 million people in Latin America and the Caribbean being…
Read MoreInequality trapping hundreds of millions in extreme poverty
More than 200 million people will be trapped unnecessarily in extreme poverty – despite world leaders’ pledge to end it – unless action to tackle economic inequality is accelerated, according to an Oxfam paper published today. World leaders will promise to eradicate extreme poverty by 2030 at a UN summit later this week. While applauding…
Read MoreWomen’s Issues Finally Get The Attention They Deserve
Toronto – Women’s issues finally took the forefront in the federal election thanks to a partnership between the Up For Debate campaign, Twitter Canada, Toronto Star and Le Devoir. This national conversation on women’s issues was broadcasted live from Toronto’s Isabel Bader theatre on Monday, Sept 21. The free event featured a lineup of commentators…
Read MoreOxfam welcomes the Government of Canada’s Emergency Relief Fund for the Syrian Refugee Crisis
Oxfam welcomed the Government of Canada’s announcement of a $100 million matching fund program for the Syrian Refugee Crisis. Ann Witteveen, Humanitarian Manager for Oxfam Canada, said: “The tragic photo of drowned three-year-old Syrian boy Alan Kurdi has reminded us all that the situation in Syria continues to worsen, and that more must be done…
Read MoreFeministing Foreign Policy – A Global Conversation Comes to Ottawa
On September 15, 2015, three Nobel peace laureates joined Canadian women thought-leaders in Ottawa for an inspiring pre-federal election conversation on the potential for feminist ideas and approaches to transform foreign policy. This free event was organized by the Nobel Women’s Initiative, Oxfam Canada, Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights and the Up for…
Read MoreLong Road to Peace Begins in South Sudan
Juba, SOUTH SUDAN – The signing of the peace agreement by President Salva Kiir Mayardit is a positive step toward ending the brutal 20 month civil war but aid agencies CARE, IRC, Oxfam and World Vision say it is only the beginning of a long, hard journey towards peace and reconciliation. International and regional diplomatic…
Read MoreUp for Debate – Plan B
The Up for Debate campaign announced today that it has confirmation from four major parties to explore an alternative debate format to put women at the centre of Canada’s federal election campaign. It is still hoping for confirmation from the fifth. Ann Decter, Director of Policy and Advocacy at the YWCA an Up For Debate…
Read MoreNGOs call on World Humanitarian Summit (WHS) to empower women
The World Humanitarian Summit (WHS) aims at major global reforms to better protect and assist people affected by crisis. The undersigned organisations call on the WHS to put women’s leadership, gender equality and gender-based violence (GBV) at the heart of these reforms. Research and experience have demonstrated how the failure to address the gendered impacts…
Read MoreCivilians need peace urgently as talks face further delay
Juba, SOUTH SUDAN – Delaying peace may have serious consequences for South Sudanese civilians who are enduring their 20th month of a brutal civil war, aid agencies Oxfam, CARE and IRC warned today. The people of South Sudan need and deserve an immediate cessation of hostilities and lasting peace for any hope of sustainable development…
Read MoreFederal Party Leaders Not Up For Debating Gender Equality
Federal Party Leaders Not Up For Debating Gender Equality One week into Canada’s federal election campaign, party leaders have failed to put women’s rights and gender equality issues up for debate. The Up for Debate campaign, led by a broad coalition of 175 organizations, has collected over 50,000 signatures from people across Canada calling for a nationally…
Read MoreOxfam Canada hosts activists from across the country
In fact, that’s almost exactly what we call it: Change Leadership Summit! As in all of our organizational work, the week’s activities will be based on a strong gender analysis that sees championing women’s rights as essential to overcoming the injustice of poverty and inequality. Oxfam Canada has long worked with volunteers across the country…
Read MoreLack of funding leads to World Food Program cuts for Syrian refugees – a dangerous development, says Oxfam
The World Food Programme has announced it is to significantly reduce food vouchers for refugees living outside of camps in Jordan in August, while maintaining the same levels of assistance for camp residents, due to a lack of funding. Over a third of registered refugees in Jordan will have their assistance reduced to about a…
Read MoreIn memory of Flora MacDonald
Oxfam Canada was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Flora MacDonald, a great friend and an inspiring example of women’s leadership in Canada. "After her electoral defeat in 1988, Flora looked for new opportunities to bring her energy, politics and profile to the global struggle for social justice," said Jim McKinnon, Oxfam’s program manager…
Read MoreCanadian women have questions, and challenge all party leaders to answer them.
Ottawa – The Up for Debate campaign has released a selection of questions that it has crowdsourced for potential use in its upcoming federal election debate, scheduled to take place in Toronto on September 21st. The campaign asked over 70,000 Canadians what they would like to hear from party leaders in a debate on women's issues…
Read MoreBlockade and violence in Yemen Escalates
Since the start of the conflict, nearly 25,000 additional people are going hungry each day in Yemen as the blockade and fighting restrict food, fuel and other vital supplies, Oxfam warned. One in two people – nearly 13 million people – are now struggling to find enough to eat, and half of them are on…
Read MoreOxfam Echoes UN Call for Canadian Leadership on Women’s Rights
Oxfam supports the UN’s call for greater Canadian leadership on women and girls rights. Canada was recently reviewed by the UN Human Rights Committee, which released a report July 23 highlighting improvements needed on gender equality, aboriginal rights, and freedom of expression, among other issues. The Director of Oxfam Canada’s Centre for Gender Justice, Caroline…
Read MoreRich countries provide a poor outcome at Addis Financing for Development Conference: Oxfam
Unresolved rigged tax rules and privatized development are the major drawbacks of the UN Financing for Development Conference outcome, says Oxfam. However, after such tense negotiations there can be no doubt that developing countries’ determination to call for true global tax reform and tax cooperation has been noted, and cannot go unheeded for long. Responding to…
Read MoreOxfam: Lack of fuel could soon cause more deaths than ongoing violence in Yemen
Lack of fuel in Yemen caused by the continuing conflict and restrictions of imports could ultimately be responsible for even more deaths than the fighting in the country, Oxfam warned today. Fuel shortages have hit water supplies, food deliveries and health services for the 84% of Yemenis in need of aid, the international agency said.…
Read MoreOxfam’s Senior Policy Advisor In response to the FFD announcement of the Global Financing Facility for Every Woman, Every Child
In response to the FFD announcement of the Global Financing Facility for Every Woman, Every Child, Claire Godfrey, Oxfam’s Senior Policy Advisor said: “Since women's and children's health cover a spectrum of services, we need the Global Financing Facility (GFF) to focus on building comprehensive and resilient public health systems across the developing world. From…
Read MoreOXFAM: Cholera cases multiply as cost of clean water skyrockets in South Sudan capital
JUBA, South Sudan – Cholera cases are rapidly increasing in South Sudan’s capital, Juba, as the cost of clean water skyrockets amid a worsening economic crisis. 33 people have died in Juba alone including seven children under five, with 700 more people infected with the deadly and contagious disease. Zlatko Gegic, Country Director for Oxfam…
Read MoreCorporate stranglehold on development finance must end in Addis
The corporate grip on development finance must be loosened if the Finance for Development Conference is going to help mobilize the resources needed to overcome poverty. Oxfam issued this warning ahead of third Finance for Development Conference which is to be held in Addis, Ethiopia from 13 – 16 July. The Addis Conference is due…
Read MoreSouth Sudan faces unprecedented humanitarian crisis
Instead of celebrating its 4th anniversary, South Sudan is standing on an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. In the world’s youngest country almost 8 million people – two-thirds of the total population – are food insecure and as many as 3.8m going hungry. More than 2 million people have been forced to flee their homes because of…
Read More4 million Syrian refugees registered in neighbouring countries: UNHCR
The number of Syrian refugees registered in neighbouring countries has hit the 4 million mark, announced the UNHCR today. Oxfam says it is more than time for governments to step-up the relief effort. Andy Baker, who leads Oxfam’s response to the Syria crisis, said: “A ‘fate worse than death’ is how some of the four…
Read MoreCholera outbreak in South Sudan’s capital threatens to bring new waves of suffering
“This cholera outbreak is a wake-up call for the government and the aid world to redouble efforts to tackle a worsening cycle of misery,” said Zlatko Gegic, Oxfam’s country director in South Sudan. “Money is urgently needed to fund an immediate surge in action to tackle the disease.” When an outbreak of the highly contagious…
Read MorePolitical will is missing from development debate as UN reveals MDG benefits are uneven
The UN report provides an assessment of global and regional progress towards the MDGs. It shows that progress has been made in the global fight against absolute poverty in the set 15 years but the benefits have been uneven. The new Sustainable Development Goals which aim to eradicate poverty and protect the planet are due…
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