International aid agency Oxfam is calling on the Australian Government and the international community to develop a multi-million dollar post-Ebola recovery plan to put the West Africa countries hit by the crisis back on their feet.
The landmark Arms Trade Treaty designed to halt the flow of deadly weapons to human rights abusers and oppressive governments will become international law today after more than 10 years in the making.
Disaster risk reduction work carried out since the Boxing Day Tsunami would save thousands of lives if the waves hit again today, but the Australian Government’s cuts to foreign aid pose a risk to future work on disaster preparation in our region.
Oxfam is prepared for a major disaster response in the Philippines after Cyclone Hagupit was upgraded to a Super Typhoon – the same classification as Typhoon Haiyan – which wrought destruction on the country a year ago.
Oxfam is closely watching Typhoon Hagupit and has contingency stocks and staff on standby, as the Philippines prepares for the storm to make landfall this weekend.
Oxfam Australia Chief Executive Dr Helen Szoke today welcomed news of the imminent deployment of Australian health workers by medical company Aspen Medical to Sierra Leone to assist with the treatment of Ebola patients.
World leaders taking their seats at the G2O Brisbane Summit today must heed the call to pull together and act now to stop Ebola, before it’s too late.
Oxfam has today welcomed comments from Australian Treasurer Joe Hockey that the G20 needs to crack down on tax dodging if nations want to reduce poverty and turn rising inequality around.
Nine of the G20 countries have failed to deliver adequate support in the fight against Ebola, and summit host Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott is yet to grasp the full economic significance of the outbreak, Oxfam said today.
Oxfam welcomes the Australian Government’s announcement that it has secured an agreement guaranteeing medical treatment and evacuation arrangements for Australian citizens responding to the outbreak in West Africa, as well as $24 million worth of additional support to respond to the crisis.