African 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…
Read MoreHumanitarian Coalition Welcomes New Government of Canada Funding
(Ottawa) – The Humanitarian Coalition and its member agencies are pleased to announce that, collectively, they have secured more than $5 million in Government of Canada funding for their relief efforts in response to Typhoon Haiyan. Canadians from all across the country, including many communities of Filipino descent, also made generous donations to our joint…
Read MoreOxfam plans to reach 100,000 people in first phase of Philippines crisis
International agency Oxfam plans to provide vital assistance in the next few weeks to some 20,000 families affected by Typhoon Haiyan. The aid agency is working very closely with a multitude of partners to deliver water, basic sanitation, tents and tarpaulins for emergency shelter. Oxfam will also be supporting households to rebuild their farming and…
Read MoreOxfam racing against time to save lives in communities devastated by Typhoon Haiyan
Oxfam teams expert in water and sanitation have been deployed to the worst affected of the Philippines to provide immediate relief to 20,000 people in need. The aid organization is appealing for $16 million to eventually reach at least half a million people with clean water, hygiene kits and direct cash support. Ann Witteveen, Humanitarian…
Read MoreOxfam aid team witnesses scene of utter destruction in northern most tip of Cebu, Philippines
An Oxfam team assessing the typhoon damage in the northern-most tip of Cebu mainland, Philippines, said today that nearly all the houses and buildings were damaged, power lines are down and there is no electricity in the entire area. The team spoke of seeing children begging for help, holding up signs that read, “Help. We…
Read MoreOxfam dispatches aid experts to super typhoon Haiyan-hit parts of the Philippines
Oxfam has dispatched a team of experts on the ground to assess the water, public health and sanitation conditions in Bohol today and another batch of teams will go to Northern Cebu, Northern and Eastern Samar and Leyte, in the Eastern Visayas region in the Philippines, after super typhoon Haiyan (local name: Yolanda) hit the…
Read MoreThe Coca-Cola Company declares “zero tolerance” for land grabs in supply chain
The Coca-Cola Company today committed to take steps to stop land grabs from happening in its supply chain after more than 225,000 people signed petitions and took action as part of Oxfam’s campaign to urge food and beverage companies to respect community land rights. The company committed its bottlers to do the same. Coca-Cola also…
Read MoreBrazilian State Prosecutor to investigate land grab highlighted by Oxfam
Following the release of Oxfam’s report, Nothing sweet about it, describing the growing threat of land grabs in the sugar industry, Silvia Regina, the Brazilian State prosecutor overseeing the State of Pernambuco, announced last week that the Federal Public Ministry (MPF) will launch an investigation into delays in resolving one of the cases highlighted in…
Read MoreMoves to tackle Africa’s ‘resource curse’ reach turning point
Sweeping measures to improve transparency and governance are urgently needed to end a scandal that has seen Africa lose an average of $1 billion every week for the past 30 years in illicit financial flows, says Oxfam. Oxfam executive director Winnie Byanyima will also say today at a special public meeting of political, business and…
Read MoreOxfam dispatches aid experts, works with local partners in earthquake hit parts of the Philippines
Oxfam has dispatched a team of six experts on the ground to assess the water and sanitation conditions in Bohol, after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit the Philippines on October 15. The earthquake has affected the Visayas and Mindanao islands of the Philippines, where the worst hit province is Bohol. According to the National Disaster…
Read MorePoor Communities Being Kicked off Land so Big Brands can Feed World’s Increasing Appetite for Sugar
The biggest names in the food and drink industry are not doing enough to stop land grabs and conflicts in their supply chains, says Oxfam in a new report today. The report Nothing sweet about it: How sugar fuels land grabs highlights examples of land grabs and disputes linked to companies that supply sugar for…
Read MoreUnited States Signs Historic Arms Trade Treaty – Canada Yet to Sign On
Ottawa – The Canadian members of the Control Arms Coalition today welcomed the United States decision to sign the Arms Trade Treaty, a global effort to reduce loss of life from the unregulated trade in weapons and ammunition. Oxfam Canada, Project Ploughshares, Amnesty International and Oxfam Québec and Make Poverty History Canada also expressed frustration…
Read MoreTop donor countries failing ordinary Syrians affected by the conflict with Syria appeals falling short by US$2.7bn
(Beirut) Research carried out by international aid agency Oxfam reveals that many donor countries are failing to provide their share of the urgently-needed funding for the humanitarian response to the Syria crisis. While the need for a political solution to the crisis is as urgent as ever, Oxfam says donors including France, Qatar and Russia,…
Read MoreOxfam loads first batch of aid bound for Syria
International agency Oxfam has loaded 20 tonnes worth of water tanks and sanitation equipment bound for Syria from its Emergency warehouse in England. The equipment will be used to provide clean water to 300,000 people in Syria. The equipment will be used in various locations where the water systems have been damaged in the conflict…
Read MoreOxfam Verdict on the G20 summit
ON TAX G20 leaders have committed to a global deal to share tax information automatically, and set a deadline for G20 countries to implement this by the end of 2015. They did not announce when developing countries will be part of this automatic exchange of information deal – which means that it is not clear…
Read MoreBreakthrough at St. Petersburg summit needed to give hope of a better future for millions of Syrians
World leaders attending the G20 summit must seize this opportunity and make real progress on helping find a political solution to the Syria crisis, according to international aid agency Oxfam. The organisation says world leaders must not squander this key moment for peace – and is calling for the Syria Crisis to be high on…
Read MoreWomen Bear Brunt of Refugee Crisis says new report
A new study published today by the international aid agency, Oxfam and the Beirut-based ABAAD-Resource Centre for Gender Equality finds that women are bearing the brunt of the refugee crisis with the majority of the women interviewed saying they had resorted to desperate measures to survive. Many women are regularly going hungry so their children…
Read MoreTwo million Syrians are now Refugees
Oxfam’s Syria Response Campaign Manager, Claire Seaward, based in Jordan, said, “We are appalled that this landmark has been reached today. “Enough is enough. A generation of Syrians is paying too high a price in this conflict. They have been seriously let down by the international community, which has failed to prioritise a political solution…
Read MoreActor Gael García Bernal meets Syrian refugees in Jordan
Star calls on international community to find an urgent solution to the crisis Oxfam Global Ambassador and Hollywood actor Gael García Bernal has taken time out from filming on location in Jordan to meet Syrian refugees. The star, who was born in Mexico and has starred in six Academy Award-nominated films including Babel and The…
Read MoreSyrian refugee crisis stretching aid effort to limits
Many Syrian refugees living outside camps across countries in the region are losing out on the help they desperately need, according to five international aid agencies today. CARE International, Oxfam, Danish Refugee Council, Handicap International and World Vision are increasingly concerned that with more than 1.4 million – 80 per cent of all Syrian refugees…
Read MoreVoices-Voix: Letter to Prime Minister Harper
The Right Honourable Stephen Harper Prime Minister of Canada Office of the Prime Minister 80 Wellington Street Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A2 By fax: 613-941-6900 July 24, 2013 Dear Prime Minister, We are writing to you on behalf of Voices-Voix, a coalition of more than 200 national and local civil society organizations across the…
Read MoreOxfam Canada to G20 Finance Ministers: Include Developing Countries in Tax Avoidance Plan
Statement by Robert Fox “Action to fix outdated and unfair international tax rules is welcome and long overdue,” says Oxfam Canada’s Robert Fox. “But these rules affect everyone, and it is often the poorest countries that suffer the greatest losses due to tax avoidance. G-20 Finance Ministers, including Minister Jim Flaherty, must ensure that negotiations to…
Read MoreOxfam Welcomes new Minister of International Development: Calls for continued work on Women and Girls’ Rights
Oxfam Canada, today, welcomes Christian Paradis as the new Minister of International Development. “We look forward to working with Minister Paradis”, says Robert Fox, Executive Director of Oxfam Canada. “With 1.3 billion people living in extreme poverty and with women comprising 70 per cent of the world’s poor, it is critical for women to realize…
Read MoreOxfam reaction: EU vote not enough to stop biofuel policy fuelling hunger
The stance taken by Members of the European Parliament’s Environment Committee on the reform of EU legislation on biofuels is disappointing, Oxfam said today. The Parliament’s plenary vote is scheduled for September. In reaction, Marc Olivier Herman, Oxfam’s EU biofuels expert, said: “Today’s vote falls short of what is needed to put the brakes on…
Read MoreNumber of Syrian refugees set to pass two million within weeks, warn aid agencies
Long-term vision and committed funding urgently needed from international community as flow of Syrian refugees continues The number of Syrian refugees will pass the two million mark within the next nine weeks*, a coalition of 18 aid agencies working in six countries directly affected by the Syrian crisis, warned today. Marking the UN’s World Refugee…
Read MoreOxfam reaction to the G8 Communique
In response to the G8 Communique, Oxfam’s Executive Director Jim Clarken said:“The G8 has asked all the right questions but has been thin on answers. The writing is on the wall for tax dodgers and land grabbers and G8 leaders must up their game to tackle the scandal of global poverty and hunger which has…
Read MoreSyria: Presidents Obama and Putin must deliver on Syria at the G8
Sending more arms will only increase the bloodshed, says Oxfam US President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin must throw all their political weight into making the Geneva peace conference on Syria a success when they meet at the G8 summit in Northern Ireland. Failure to find a peaceful solution and sending more arms…
Read MoreG8 implicated in land grabs risk: Action needed at next week’s summit
Since 2000, companies in G8 countries have acquired land in developing countries more than the size of the whole of Ireland. This is enough to feed 96 million people every year – almost the total population of the UK and Canada – international agency Oxfam reveals today. The pace and scale of secretive land investments…
Read MoreOxfam welcomes Canada’s disclosure requirements on mining, oil and gas companies
Oxfam welcomed the Prime Minister’s announcement today that Canada will require mandatory disclosure of payments to governments by mining, oil and gas companies. Such transparency is essential if citizens in developing countries are to hold their governments accountable for investing that revenue in fighting poverty. “We are very pleased that Prime Minister Harper has committed…
Read MoreOxfam urges Canada to sign the historic Arms Trade Treaty as soon as possible
Oxfam urges the Canadian government to sign the Arms Trade Treaty without delay to help save lives. Canada voted for the treaty in April but was not among the more than 60 countries which signed the Treaty when the signing process was launched at the United Nations on Monday. Lina Holguin of Oxfam said: …
Read MoreA historical step forward for millions living in fear of armed violence
Governments sign first ever global Arms Trade Treaty History will be made today at the United Nations as more than a third of its member states sign a treaty designed to protect millions living in fear of armed violence and at risk of rape, assault, displacement and death every single day. Many of the world’s…
Read MoreGlobal leaders shirk responsibility to tackle global inequality crisis
Oxfam response to UN post-2015 development goals report Oxfam today welcomed the ambition, coherence and focus of a UN High Level Panel report on post-2015 global development goals. The focus is on ending extreme poverty and tackling climate change and sustainability. Oxfam's Stephen Hale said: “This report is an important contribution to the post 2015…
Read MoreOxfam reaction to EU failure to extend arms embargo on Syria beyond August
European Union Foreign Ministers failed last night to extend the EU arms embargo on Syria as it stands. They decided, however, not to lift it before August 1st and set a number of conditions. In reaction, Oxfam’s Head of Arms Control, Anna Macdonald, said: “Oxfam is disappointed that the EU will not extend its arms…
Read MoreEU foreign ministers must bite the bullet and extend the arms embargo on Syria, says Oxfam
Transfer of weapons to Syria likely to spell further disaster for civilians caught in the crossfire, and fuel deadly arms race European Union Foreign Ministers meeting on Monday, May 27, in Brussels should extend the existing arms embargo on Syria or risk making the situation for civilians in the country even worse, according to international…
Read MoreRisky jobs and domestic violence – new report reveals ‘hidden’ social costs of today’s high food prices
A new era of high and volatile food prices is causing life-changing shifts in society, according to Oxfam and the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) in a joint report published today. The report, Squeezed, highlights how the failure of wages to keep pace with five years of food price rises is putting a strain on…
Read MoreSyria crisis: Oxfam warns of health risks as summer approaches
Funding urgently needed to provide assistance to over 1.4m Syrian Refugees With temperatures set to soar up to 40˚C in the coming weeks, international agency Oxfam has warned that the warmer weather will increase health-related risks for Syrian refugees. The aid agency says the most vulnerable, such as the elderly, women and young children, are…
Read MoreOxfam Welcomes Loblaw-Joe Fresh signing Bangladesh accord, urges others to join
Oxfam Canada welcomes the decision by Loblaw Companies, owner of the Joe Fresh brand, and 30 other garment manufacturers and retailers to sign the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh to help protect workers from further disasters. At the same time, Oxfam urges other companies from Canada, the U.S. and around the world…
Read MoreThe Humanitarian Coalition Launches Joint Appeal for Syrian Refugees
Today, the Humanitarian Coalition and its member agencies are launching a national joint appeal to raise funds to assist the 6.8 million Syrian civilians affected by the ongoing conflict in their country. Almost five million civilians have been forced to leave their home and many have had to move repeatedly from one location to another…
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