In a report, The UN Central Response Fund One Year On, launched on the emergency fund’s first anniversary, Oxfam shows its performance has been mixed. The report’s findings indicate that the emergency fund has increased humanitarian aid delivery for under-funded emergencies and in some cases aided more rapid response and; in others, payment of funds to agencies working on the ground were patchy and sluggish.
“The emergency fund has done some good work in a short space of time but a lot remains to be done in reaching its full potential during its second year,” said Jeremy Hobbs, Oxfam International’s Executive Director. “Improvements must be made if the world is to provide a truly rapid-response system to help the 46 million people whose lives are ripped apart by natural disasters and conflict every year.”
The emergency fund was created to increase aid agencies’ ability to deliver life-saving aid during the crucial first days of a crisis. Prior to the Fund’s launch last year, the humanitarian community, which depends on donor contributions, often had to wait weeks—or even months—before they could adequately respond to an emergency. In addition, the Fund is used by the aid community to assist vulnerable people affected by chronic ‘forgotten crises.’
However, Oxfam found that non-governmental organizations working on the ground need quicker access to the funds to make a greater impact in saving lives. Currently, the emergency fund’s money is first routed through other parts of the UN, adding an extra layer of administration, time and cost. Once the existing system is fine-tuned, the Fund’s budget will be ready to grow to $1bn, leading to even more timely and effective humanitarian response.
“The cost of increasing the CERF’s budget to an ideal of $1bn would cost each person in the world’s richest nations a mere $1.14 (58p). Those same countries spend an average of $857 (£440) per head on the military every year,” added Hobbs. “When a child is starving because of drought or left homeless because armed groups have swept through her village, she doesn’t have time to wait for the aid to arrive. Every day, every hour, every minute counts towards saving her life.”
Financial backing of the CERF was also mixed during its first year and is nearly $158m (£82m) short of its current target of $500m (£260m). Wealthy countries’ individual contributions to the Fund—or their 'fair share'—were determined based on respective gross national incomes. Oxfam applauded countries like United Kingdom and Norway; the UK contributed $83m (£43m) and Norway gave $57m (£27m)—nearly 14 times more than its fair share.
Yet some of the world’s wealthiest nations, including many oil producing states, have lagged far behind. France, the United States, Japan, and Germany have thus far failed to contribute their fair share. Were the US to play a full roll in the CERF it would cost $195m—less than the budget for the latest King Kong film.
In comparison, the US donated $10m (£5.2m) or 5% of its fair share to the emergency fund, while Japan gave $7.5m (£3.9m) or 10 % of what it should have. Neither country has yet pledged money this year. In 2007, France has so far donated $1.3m (£675,000) or just 4% of its fair share and Germany has contributed $6.7m (£3.5m) which translates to 16% of its portion.
In the report Oxfam also highlights the problem of donor nations diverting funds from other humanitarian programs to the emergency fund instead of contributing ‘new’ money in support of rapid response and forgotten crises.
“Shifting humanitarian funding from one pot to another does little to help the world better respond to crises. Filling up a new pot, which exclusively feeds and nourishes rapid response and life-threatening crises that fall outside of the world’s spotlight, does,” said Hobbs. “If there were more new money, quicker disbursement and closer cooperation on the ground, the emergency fund could and will significantly improve the way the world responds to natural disasters and conflicts.”
Oxfam said the emergency fund’s successes include:
To improve funding Oxfam recommends:
"Alternative gifts are in this Spring," said Stephanie Kurzina, vice president of fundraising for Oxfam America. "We've added wonderful items like fair trade honey and beaded jewelry—which are part of Oxfam's work. Whether you're looking for something different for Mom, Dad, the grad—or, for the couple who has it all, and would prefer that their wedding guests give a gift to help people in need."
Oxfam America Unwrapped, an online gift catalog, launched last fall with more than three dozen symbolic gifts —the proceeds of which support Oxfam's programs in 26 countries. Popular gifts from the Web site include a sheep, water jugs and the offer to "Plant 50 Trees." All gift contributions are general donations to Oxfam America and are fully tax deductible. Other great gift ideas:
Visit www.oxfamamericaunwrapped.com to view all of the items available in the catalog.
]]>"The humanitarian need in Gereida remains enormous, and we have been extremely keen to return. It is with great regret that our security concerns have not been addressed, leaving us with no choice but to relocate our programs elsewhere. Since the attack, we have repeatedly stressed our desire to return to the town. But the local authorities have not lived up to their responsibility to ensure our staff can work safely. Despite our repeated requests, none of the perpetrators have been held to account, none of the assets stolen in the attack have been returned, and we have not received credible assurances that similar attacks would not take place if we did return," said Caroline Nursey, Oxfam's Sudan Programme Manager.
Gereida is under the control of the Minni Minnawi faction of the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM), a signatory to the Darfur Peace Agreement in May 2006. Since the signing of that agreement the situation in Darfur has deteriorated significantly.
"Without action and assurances from those in control, we cannot operate in areas that have proven to be so extremely unsafe for our staff. The international community needs to ensure that parties to the conflict in Darfur take their responsibilities under international humanitarian law seriously," said Nursey.
Oxfam has reached an agreement with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) that it will take over maintenance of water and sanitation services on a long-term basis. However, Oxfam's important health education and livelihoods work in the town will cease after August. This work has helped prevent the spread of disease in the vast, crowded camp and also provided opportunities for people to improve their livelihoods and reduce their dependency on aid.
"As usual in Darfur, the people who will suffer most are the civilians who have already been attacked, forced from their homes and had their lives thrown into turmoil. For the last six months they have not had the level of assistance that they need," added Nursey.
The attack in Gereida on December 18th 2006 saw armed men raid the compounds of Oxfam and Action Against Hunger/Action Contre La Faim. 12 humanitarian vehicles were stolen, a female aid worker raped and an Oxfam staff member very badly beaten. Other aid workers were subjected to mock executions. Communications equipment and money were also taken. Oxfam staff were among 71 aid workers evacuated from the town as a result. Since then Oxfam has maintained some basic public health services through local staff in the town, but most operations have been suspended.
While the incident in Gereida was particularly serious, targeted attacks on aid workers have now become a daily occurrence in Darfur, gravely threatening the entire humanitarian response on which 4 million people depend. Aid agencies' ability to reach people in need has been greatly curtailed as a result.
Oxfam began working in Gereida in mid-2004 as people began to seek shelter there from attacks on villages in the surrounding area. In early 2006, work was scaled up considerably to respond to escalating violence, that in just four months more than tripled the population of the camp. Until mid-2006 Oxfam was one of only three agencies working in the town and provided tens of thousands of new arrivals with access to clean water, sanitation and other essential items such as blankets and shelter materials. By the time of the attack in December Oxfam was pumping 15 liters of water per person per day into the camp (more than 2 million liters in total) – compared to four liters per person per day just four months earlier.
Despite the withdrawal from Gereida, Oxfam is still assisting around 400,000 people affected by the Darfur-Chad crisis, by providing life-saving clean water, sanitation, health education and livelihoods work. It is now looking at new areas of South Darfur state in which to extend its work.
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The emergency response will center on remote communities around the River Coco, Bilwi, Sasha and Siuna areas. These areas are difficult to access and are mostly inhabited by indigenous Mayagnas and Misquitos Indians.
Teams arriving from Madrid this week will install three water tanks and immediately begin to distribute clean water to10,000 people daily.
"We are going into areas which are isolated and very difficult to reach," said Martha Lorena Mora the coordinator of the Oxfam International humanitarian team in Nicaragua. "It is clear that these communities have suffered a devastating impact."
The operation will be carried out in two phases. The first will be an emergency response, providing the basic necessities for the population, including water and sanitation (cleaning wells and treating water). During the second phase, Oxfam will develop a rehabilitation programme with the emphasis on food security.
Last week's heavy rains destroyed agricultural produce and contaminated wells. The loss of crops such as rice and maize means that communities will need to find alternative food supplies for the next few months.
"We will have to focus on providing the basics for the population until the end of the year. But we must also work to rehabilitate people's production capacity. These people need to grow crops again to be able to get back on track," said German Quezada, humanitarian officer for Oxfam in Nicaragua.
According to the latest information, nearly one hundred people have died and more than 100,000 people have been affected by the hurricane. This number is expected to rise over the next few days. This is the first time in history that two category five hurricanes (Dean and Felix) have hit the Atlantic coast in the same year.
In its humanitarian response, Oxfam is working with local organisations, and coordinating with the National Disaster Prevention and Response System (SINAPRED) under Nicaragua's Coordinator for Risk Prevention.
]]>At the end of 2004, Helen traveled again with Oxfam, this time to Northern Uganda. Here she was confronted by what the UN Security Council called the world's worst forgotten crisis in which half a million people have been killed and two million people displaced. She met children who had been kidnapped by the Lord's Resistance Army and forced to join thousands of others as child soldiers.
"I want to shine a search light on a part of the world people have ignored for too long" she said. "What I've seen here is the worst horror story you can imagine—a war that specifically targets children," said Mirren.
Helen continued to lobby hard on behalf of the Control Arms campaign and to highlight the situation in Northern Uganda. In 2006 the campaign won a huge victory with 153 countries backing the need for an international arms trade treaty. Helen was delighted with the success. The backing of so many countries around the world is a real step towards establishing an international arms trade treaty. Many people have worked tirelessly through Oxfam and the Control Arms campaign to make this happen and Helen Mirren's contribution cannot be underestimated.
Further information on Helen Mirren's work with Oxfam can be found online at www.oxfam.org.uk.
]]>Heavy rains are forecast to continue in the region this week, threatening to worsen the situation of up to 285,000 people living in vulnerable areas.
Oxfam will provide 14 tons of water, sanitation and hygiene equipment.
A plane will leave the East Midlands airport in the UK at 12 noon on Thursday 15 February and is expected to arrive in Beira, in Mozambique, on Friday, with enough equipment to provide for the needs of 25 000 people. Water pumps, water containers, pipes, water treatment chemicals, jerry cans for water collection, buckets, 1,000 bed nets and 2,000 hygiene kits will be on board.
“As flood levels keep rising our main concern is the lack of clean water and sanitation facilities in many of the evacuation centres where up to 70,000 people are taking shelter. In these conditions the threat of diarrhoea, malaria and cholera needs to be addressed immediately,” explained Fabio Fussi, head of Oxfam’s humanitarian response in Mozambique.
The floods along the river Zambezi have cut off many communities, making access difficult for government and humanitarian agencies. The most affected areas are the provinces of Tete, Sofala, Manica and Zambezia. Oxfam teams are now in Caia (6,500 displaced people) ready to start the installation of emergency water systems and sanitation facilities as soon as possible.
"There are 1,900 people living in this camp in very basic conditions. They are mainly women and children, who were evacuated by boat and couldn’t take much with them,” said Caroline Hooper Box, an Oxfam aid worker in the Chupanga evacuation camp.
“Many men have stayed behind to look after the livestock, but crops may be more difficult to save” Hooper Box added. “The maize fields we saw while driving here are flooded. We could only see the heads of the maize sticking out of the water.”
]]>Oxfam said that the U.S. is still paying billions of dollars of such subsidies to its cotton farmers, despite having lost a WTO case against Brazil in 2005, with no encouraging signs of reform coming from the U.S. Congress. There is little time for the U.S. Congress to make more meaningful reforms to agricultural subsidies in order to comply with international trade rules before facing possible retaliation from Brazil.
"This ruling reinforces the need for reductions in U.S. cotton subsidies in both the context of the Doha Round and the 2007 Farm Bill," said Isabel Mazzei, head of the Geneva office of Oxfam International. "The U.S. cannot continue to ignore the WTO and the effects of cotton subsidies on global markets and, ultimately, the livelihoods of poor farmers in the developing world."
In 2005, the WTO ruled that U.S. cotton subsidies violate WTO rules and gave the U.S. until September 2005 to reduce them. In response, the USDA agreed to reform export credit programs to comply with the ruling, and Congress eliminated the Step 2 cotton export subsidy program in 2006. But these programs represent only 10% of the overall cotton subsidy programs and some of the most trade distorting programs, like the counter cyclical payments were left untouched. In September 2006, Brazil asked for a WTO “compliance panel” to determine whether the US has done enough to comply with the ruling. Today, the WTO has confirmed that the U.S. has failed to reform its agricultural subsidies enough to comply.
“Not only did the House of Representatives completely ignore the WTO ruling in passing its version of the 2007 Farm Bill, but it elected to take the brazen step of reinstating subsidies for cotton that were eliminated by the previous Congress, parsing the language to try to slide the subsidy under the WTO screen," said Raymond C. Offenheiser, president of Oxfam America. "Indeed, the cotton lobby, representing about 20,000 mostly large producers, has continued to fare well at the expense of the American taxpayer and family farmers both here and in Africa.”
According to a recent study conducted by Dan Sumner and others at the University of California Davis for Oxfam, reforming U.S. cotton subsidies would increase world cotton prices by 6-14%, resulting in additional income that could feed an additional million children for a year or pay school fees for at least two million children living in extremely poor West African cotton growing households. A typical cotton-producing household in West Africa has about 10 family members, an average life expectancy of about 48 years and an adult literacy rate of less than 25 percent. Cotton is often the only source of cash income for these families who live on less than $1 a day per person.
"The House-passed Farm Bill will not pass muster with the WTO," said Offenheiser. "If the U.S. is unwilling to live up to its international trade commitments, how can it expect other nations to comply with the same rules? It is now up to the Senate to rally the political will to finally align our agricultural programs with these international rules."
]]>In a new report, “A Fragile Future,” Oxfam says that without a strong UN presence the Congo could see a return to widespread fighting which would undo the gains made in the historic 2006 elections.
The UN started renewing the mandate of its peacekeeping force (known as MONUC) on February 15 and the agency is urging the UN Security Council to keep MONUC at its current strength.
“Without a substantial and effective MONUC presence, the security situation – which is currently fairly stable – could soon unravel,” said Juliette Prodhan, head of Oxfam in the DRC. “This would be a disaster for the DRC and the wider region. MONUC has brought stability and security to large parts of the country and played an instrumental role in helping the Congolese people with the 2006 elections.
“This is a period of unprecedented opportunity for the DRC – but only if the international community makes the right choices in the next few months. MONUC’s existing resources in DRC are already overstretched. Cutting the current troop strength or resources would spell disaster for communities currently benefiting from MONUC protection,” said Prodhan.
“MONUC should stay at its current strength – at this stage anything else would amount to abandoning civilians in the DRC to a very frightening and uncertain future.”
Instead of looking at reducing troop numbers, Oxfam says the UN Security Council should use the mandate renewal process to improve MONUC’s operational effectiveness.
Peacekeepers’ priority should be protecting civilians, for example by increasing the number of night patrols. They should also establish overall security and humanitarian access in areas where displaced populations are returning to their villages of origin.
Oxfam says MONUC’s long-term exit strategy should be linked to reform of the DRC’s army and police. The DRC’s security sector does not currently have the capacity to protect the civilian population from militia warlords, foreign rebels or local defence forces; only when they are better able to protect civilians should the UN consider reducing the number of MONUC troops.
“The Bush Administration must do all that it can to support President Kabila in his efforts to address the longstanding conflict which is once again threatening the lives and safety of hundreds of thousands of civilians,” said Raymond C. Offenheiser, president of Oxfam America.
“The Administration must continue its crucial mediation role to ensure that the legitimate concerns of Congolese citizens are addressed. Both Presidents must make it clear that they will not allow the progress made over the past few years to be jeopardized by renewed fighting,” said Offenheiser.
The election of President Kabila in 2006 brought hopes of peace and stability after decades of misrule and a civil war which claimed the lives of approximately four million civilians and led to the displacement of over one million people. Despite the success of the elections, the continued fighting in the east between rebel groups and government forces is a threat to the tenuous peace in the DRC—one of the world’s poorest countries. The DRC ranks 141st out of 174 countries in the United Nation’s human development ranking.
Since last December, the intense fighting has forced over 370,000 people to leave their homes in the eastern region of North Kivu, the largest surge of internal displacement since the formal end of the civil war in 2003. Unlike displacements in the past, the scale of the latest influx is too great for the displaced to be accommodated by local families.
Meanwhile, increased fighting and insecurity have also severely limited the ability of humanitarian agencies like Oxfam to deliver vital aid to civilians in need.
As the conflict intensifies, growing numbers of civilians are placed in imminent physical danger and serious violations of international humanitarian law continue. These include the recruitment of children by rebel forces, the reported use of forced labor by the national army, and an epidemic of violence against women that is among the worst in the world. A 2004 survey found mortality rates in some parts of the country to be close to 3 times the sub-Saharan average, partly from ongoing conflict but also due to disease, malnutrition, and lack of very basic social services.
In the face of the worsening security and humanitarian situation in DRC, Oxfam also called on the US government to maintain its support for a robust UN military presence while increasing its funding and technical assistance to the reform of Congo’s military forces. Tasked with the mandate to protect civilians, the UN peacekeeping mission in DRC (MONUC), receives one third of its operating budget from the US government. With the mission’s funding up for renewal in December, it is crucial that President Bush pledges to continue his administration’s support.
“Without a substantial and effective MONUC presence, the DRC’s fragile peace could quickly unravel completely, further threatening not only the Congolese people but also the wider region. Until the DRC’s police, military, and judiciary are able to effectively enforce the law and protect civilians, US support for both the mandate and operations of the UN peacekeeping mission there is absolutely vital,” said Offenheiser.
]]>As the emergency response begins to shift to rebuilding destroyed towns and villages, Oxfam International urged national and local authorities to take measures to reduce risk in the earthquake-prone country.
Oxfam staff working in the districts of Pisco, Humay, and Independencia have already observed that some families in affected areas have begun rebuilding their homes. They are using the same fragile materials, such as mud bricks and bamboo, to construct their new homes as before, leaving them equally vulnerable to damage and collapse if another earthquake hits.
“Reconstructing the area in the same way, in the same places, using the same materials, is a recipe for a future disaster. Government authorities must ensure that communities are informed of the basic guidelines on how to rebuild their homes to make them more resistant to severe damage or collapse,” said Jacobo Ocharán, an Oxfam Disaster Risk Reduction Specialist. “As reconstruction begins, people must learn how to build affordable earthquake-resistant structures. Our work in risk reduction in El Salvador has shown us that taking these low-cost measures can help to prevent such destruction from happening again.”
Oxfam is currently carrying out its emergency response providing clean water, sanitation services and other assistance to people in urban and remote rural areas. Once it moves into the reconstruction phase, Oxfam will also take on disaster risk reduction in quake-affected areas, tapping into its experience helping local governments in northern Peru build their capacity to respond to increasingly frequent flash floods caused by El Niño.
The national government’s reconstruction fund, FORSUR, has recently announced that, over the next one to two years, it will be providing 6,000 earthquake-resistant houses for families who lost their homes during last month’s quake, and may be providing subsidies for others to help them rebuild their lives. According to figures released by the government, nearly 45,000 homes were destroyed in the quake, and more than 13,000 were damaged.
“Families who are unable to access government-provided, earthquake-resistant houses will require extra help in learning how to make their new homes much stronger than they were before. Authorities must communicate that simple measures can be taken such as reinforcing mud bricks with straw or other fibers, improving bricklaying techniques and using light-weight roofing materials”, said Ocharán. “Most importantly, seismic experts must evaluate the ground in the region to determine whether part of the population needs to be relocated to sturdier areas.”
Efforts to help the population recover have vastly improved over the last month. Most affected families now have access to temporary shelter and community kitchens. However, life remains far from normal. Electricity is gradually being restored in the affected area but water provision in the city is still inadequate. Also, many sewers were destroyed in the urban areas and have not yet been repaired. Students who attend schools that were damaged are waiting for temporary classrooms to be built so they can return to their studies.
Economic activity is resuming slowly. Some fishermen have returned to the seas after repairing their boats. Yet many people continue to hang in the balance. The cotton harvest, which usually starts in late August, has been postponed due to possible irrigation water and electricity shortages. Several other industries have been indefinitely interrupted leaving many people in the region without an income.
Although no major illnesses have been reported, sanitation breaks in affected areas continue to present great health risks. Additional latrines are needed to ensure that public health problems do not develop, as are improvements in hygiene facilities for families living in tent camps and other temporary homes without access to showers.
Oxfam International is working with EMA Pisco, the municipal water enterprise, to provide the population with clean water. Additionally, the agency is working in San Miguel, a shantytown near Pisco where 400 families live. Before the earthquake, they had running water in their homes for only 30 minutes each day. Oxfam is providing them with a 45,000-liter water tank that now allows these families access to water for most of the day. Oxfam has also distributed 200 tents and temporary shelter materials to Humay, Independencia, and Túpac Amaru.
“As the rebuilding begins, we must make sure that communities are better off than before by providing better water systems and ensuring that new homes are more structurally sound than they were in the past. It is essential that authorities involved in the reconstruction engage with the local population to avoid spontaneous rebuilding by families and individuals. People must be aware of how to prevent such a tragedy from happening again,” said Ocharán.
]]>"I want to be a part of the great work that Oxfam is doing, and am glad that by being an Ambassador I can continue to be involved with the organization," said Johansson. "Once you've met amazing people like the Dalit girls I met on my trip you just can't turn your back. I was shocked by a lot of what I saw, but seeing the fantastic work Oxfam was doing I also felt that there was hope."
Actor Djimon Hounsou, said: "As an African, born and raised in Benin, where cotton is the main source of income for farmers, it is important for me to join forces with Oxfam, an organization that works to fight against the unfair trade laws that keep farmers poor and unable to provide for their families. Subsidies in developed countries are killing the chances of hardworking farmers in Africa of earning a decent wage. It is an honor to be able to represent Africa and Oxfam when I'm meeting with the powerful politicians that create these laws."
Actor, Gael Garcia Bernal said: "I am a firm supporter of Oxfam's campaign because I believe that only through a concerted effort will we be able to make a difference. We have to help small-scale farmers to have a voice and then—together with millions of others—exert huge pressure on decision makers to change the trade rules. This is the only way to fight poverty."
Oxfam has benefited for many years from the support of numerous celebrities around the world, whose dedication and commitment continue to make a huge contribution to its work. The new Global Ambassador program will formalize relationships with some of the international development agency's most well-known supporters and enable them to go further in their work to help the agency meet its goals of overcoming poverty, hunger and injustice.
"Our Ambassadors are listened to across the world, and their support helps to give a voice to people who would not otherwise be heard. Through their work, Oxfam's campaigning messages can reach a much wider audience and have huge impact on decision makers. We are delighted to have so many credible and passionate Ambassadors from across the globe." said Claire Lewis, Oxfam's International Artist Liaison Manager.
]]>Altogether 20 million people in India, Bangladesh, and Nepal have been affected by flooding in the current monsoon, forcing many from their homes.
"Across the region people are struggling to cope with what is for many the worst flooding in living memory,” said Ashvin Dayal, head of Oxfam in South Asia. “Millions of the very poorest have lost their homes, their possessions, and their livelihoods. Thanks to good preparation we have responded quickly and saved lives, but people desperately need our help to get back on their feet again.”
Last week, Oxfam and its partners in Bihar, northern India, managed to rescue stranded villagers using 20 small boats they had ready as part of their disaster contingency plan for the flood-prone area. The groups have also tapped their emergency stocks to provide essential household items and temporary shelter for displaced people.
Oxfam has been working on village-level flood preparedness with local authorities in all the three countries. In Nepal, for instance, preparedness has meant that people’s raised homesteads have not been flooded and their raised drinking water sources, such as tube-wells, are still safe. This is true for many prepared villagers in Bangladesh and India too.
"These floods show how important it is for governments and the international community to be prepared for when disasters strike,” said Dayal. “Today we are providing emergency aid for those who have lost everything. In the long term we must work with local authorities to help vulnerable people in the flood-prone areas of India, Bangladesh, and Nepal to cope with increasingly erratic and unpredictable weather."
Oxfam is currently responding to this and more than 30 other emergencies around the world. To make it possible for Oxfam to respond to emergencies and work to overcome poverty and suffering, you can make a donation to our Global Emergencies Fund.
]]>“It is a great honor for Oxfam America to be affiliated with a film of such integrity. 'Into the Wild' truly embraces the independent spirit of human nature,” said Raymond C. Offenheiser, President of Oxfam America.
The story takes place after McCandless graduates from Emory. He donates all of his money, rids himself of all his possessions, cuts off contact with his family and attempts to live a life of adventure in the mountains of Alaska. The film was adapted from best selling author Jon Krakauer’s novel, Into the Wild. The film is directed and produced by Academy Award® winner Sean Penn and stars Emile Hirsch, William Hurt, Marcia Gay Harden, Catherine Keener, Vince Vaughn and Jena Malone. The film premiered in Los Angeles in September where another donation was made to Oxfam America in memory of Christopher McCandless.
Oxfam will be honoring the cast of Into the Wild including Director Sean Penn and Emile Hirsch on November 14th at The Oxfam Party at Esquire North in New York City.
To learn more about the film, "Into the Wild," visit the official Web site.
]]>According to initial reports, there has been massive destruction of homes, crops, and livestock, although the death toll was low. Power and communications have been totally disrupted by the cyclone, which swept up from the Bay of Bengal on the evening of November 15th with wind speeds of up to 150 mph.
Before the cyclone struck, around 1,000 volunteers from Oxfam’s Bangladeshi partner organizations helped to evacuate villagers.
Today, Oxfam is coordinating and sharing information with the Bangladeshi government. The aid agency has two teams assessing the damage caused by the cyclone, which is the largest to hit Bangladesh since 1991, when a cyclone killed 138,000 people.
Heather Blackwell, Head of Oxfam International in Bangladesh, said, “Many of Bangladesh’s poorest people live on sandbanks in the river delta, which can be easily flooded by tidal surges. A cyclone this strong can literally wash away the sandbanks and mainland areas, forcing families to abandon their homes, livestock and crops. The storm is so strong that many of those living farther inland could also be seriously affected.
“Working through local Bangladeshi organizations, we have sent hundreds of volunteers around the affected districts to warn and evacuate people.
“Over the last few years we have helped hundreds of villages to prepare for floods and tropical storms. Simple measures, such as having an evacuation plan and giving enough warning of approaching storms, can really save lives.
“The Bangladeshi government has also been proactive in issuing early warnings and evacuating coastal areas, and we are working closely with them on the relief effort.”
]]>The number of internally displaced Chadians has quadrupled since May 2006, from 30,000 to more than 120,000 people, mostly as a result of violent attacks on villages.
In the last two weeks, attacks on civilians have intensified in the north-eastern province of Dar Tama, where traditional rivalries are spiralling into major conflict as armed groups become more organised, more numerous and better equipped. In the south-eastern province of Dar Sila, inter-ethnic clashes and attacks on villages, including cross-border raids from neighbouring Darfur, are being carried out with impunity. In the final week of January, dozens of civilians were killed in militia attacks on villages near Djimeze and Biltine.
"We are facing an extraordinary situation as more than 230,000 refugees, who fled attacks in Darfur in 2003 and 2004, are joined by thousands of Chadians fleeing a new wave of fighting at home,” said <Roland Van Hauwermeiren, head of Oxfam in Chad. “Eastern Chad is one of the hardest places in the world to find water. And, despite our best efforts, some people are only receiving 4 to 5 litres of water per day when they should be receiving at least 15 litres."
Oxfam is providing clean water to 30,000 displaced people in and around the town of Goz Beida, but is struggling to keep pace as more people arrive, and insecurity forces the number of staff to be cut back. Over the past two weeks, Oxfam has delivered three cargo planes full of water and sanitation equipment to eastern Chad. In addition to water pumps and a drilling rig, these planes have carried materials to construct emergency latrines for people who have been displaced by the violence.
Animal and human waste is scattered throughout the areas where displaced Chadians have settled, and children walk with bare feet.
“In some of the areas where we work, you’ve got 12,000 or 15,000 people, and not a single latrine. If further violence prevents us from building latrines quickly, it will be very hard to prevent the outbreak of infectious and water-borne diseases like diarrhoea, cholera and hepatitis,” said Van Hauwermeiren. “Every day, more and more people in eastern Chad are suffering the consequences of violent conflict, and the situation is spiralling out of control. We need to put an end to the attacks now.”
Oxfam appeals to Chadian authorities and the international community to take urgent and immediate action to stop inter-ethnic violence and assist those who have been affected by it. As the United Nations Security Council deliberates the deployment of an international force to eastern Chad, Oxfam reminds all parties to the conflict that: