After six years of brutal conflict the five millionth Syrian refugee fled their country overnight to seek safety – the total now equivalent to a quarter of the country’s pre-war population. Oxfam and three Syrian organisations have called on the international community to recommit support to Syrians forced to flee. Oxfam Australia’s Chief Executive Dr […]
Fighters in the Yemen war and their international backers are wilfully pushing the country to the brink of famine, Oxfam warned today, on the two year anniversary of the escalation of the war (26 March). Nearly 7 million people have been pushed to the brink of starvation and 70 per cent of the population is […]
One month since famine was declared in two areas of South Sudan on 20 February 2017, it’s a race against the forthcoming rains to save lives, Oxfam warned today. The annual rainy season, which starts in April or May, will make conditions even more difficult for the people in need of help and the aid […]
Elizabeth White, Oxfam’s Policy Lead in South Sudan, has just returned to the capital Juba from Nyal in Panyijar County, southern Unity State, which has the worst nutrition situation in the country along with Leer County, which was declared to be suffering from famine last week. People from Leer have been arriving in Nyal in […]
The world stands on the brink of an unprecedented four famines in 2017 due to a catastrophic failure by the global community to uphold its obligations to the most vulnerable of people. Oxfam calls on donors to take immediate action to help up to 20 million people now at risk of starvation. Famine was declared […]
Emma Jane Drew, Oxfam’s Humanitarian Program Manager in South Sudan says: “This is a man-made tragedy, and we are running out of time to avoid it getting worse. In over 30 years working in the affected areas, Oxfam has never witnessed such dire need. Vulnerable people, out of reach of life-saving assistance due to the […]
More than 47 million people are in need of humanitarian aid in the Middle East at the start of 2017, equivalent to almost double the Australian population, Oxfam said today. The figures, drawn from Iraq, Syria and Yemen as well as Syrian refugees in Lebanon, Turkey and Jordan, show the scale of the humanitarian crisis […]
Oxfam is calling for civilians in formerly besieged areas of Aleppo and in neighbouring Idlib Governorate to be protected. Those who have chosen to remain in Aleppo must also have their rights respected, have access to assistance and be free from the risk of reprisal attacks. It is estimated that more than 34,000 people have […]
With the brief ceasefire in Aleppo having collapsed overnight and the planned evacuation of rebel fighters and civilians being paused, Oxfam is calling for civilians to be helped to flee to safety. Airstrikes and the shelling of rebel-held areas resumed and Oxfam Australia’s Humanitarian Manager Meg Quartermaine said estimates were that somewhere between 50,000 and […]
Responding to reports that dozens of Syrian civilians in formerly rebel-held East Aleppo have been executed by pro-government forces, Oxfam’s Syria Crisis response Manager, Andy Baker, said: “Oxfam is deeply concerned at reports that dozens of civilians, including women and children, have been executed in Aleppo by pro-government forces. “The government of Syria and their […]