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Providing more opportunities for everyday Haitians to get involved in the earthquake recovery process is critical to the successful rebuilding of the country, says international aid agency Oxfam.

South Sudan will face enormous challenges and will need long-term support from the rest of the world regardless of the outcome of this Sunday’s referendum when the citizens will decide if they remain part of Sudan, international aid agency Oxfam said today.

In a new report released today, international aid agency Oxfam finds that almost a year after the January 2010 earthquake that devastated Haiti nearly one million people are still living in tents and under tarpaulins.

In a new twist on recycling, presents made from recycled materials are the most popular fair trade gifts this year, according to an analysis of the purchasing habits of Oxfam customers.

Oxfam is scaling up its aid effort to reach 200,000 people affected by the severe floods that have hit Colombia in recent weeks. The floods have affected more than two million people in 28 out of 32 districts in the country. The agency called on the international community for an increased aid response to the emergency, warning that heavy rains are expected to continue for many weeks.

From December 1-12, Oxfam sold 18,500 more fair trade products (up 17.4%) and served 8.6% more customers through its 23 shops around Australia compared to the same period last year.

This pattern is echoed through the rest of the year, with Australians buying 8.8% more fair trade products through Oxfam’s Shops overall in 2010 so far, compared to the same point in 2009.

Cancun is an important chapter in the epic story to tackle global climate change. If countries view Cancun as they should – a turning point from which to build from – the end of the book could well be in sight.

Australians can make a real difference to the lives of people in poor communities around the world simply through the Christmas gifts they purchase this year, according to Oxfam Australia.

The international aid agency today called on Australians to consider gifts that give back, such as fair trade items and donation cards that support producers and programs in developing countries.

An agreement at the eleventh hour has moved the world closer to the global deal on climate change that eluded last year’s summit in Copenhagen, said international aid agency Oxfam Australia as the United Nations negotiations in Cancun, Mexico drew to a close.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s announcement that she will continue to open each Parliamentary year with a statement on how Australia is progressing in closing the gap in Indigenous disadvantage shows government commitment at the highest level, the Close the Gap Campaign said today.