From flooding in Haiti to drought in Ethiopia, water has long been central to Oxfam's work. Our emergency water systems are a hallmark of our agency. And our efforts to help communities access water for farming and fishing enable people to realize security.
But in recent decades, some extraordinary water pressures have emerged, as water resources are being swallowed up by dams, mining, and other commercial projects. The result is that, for the villages along the rivers, in the watersheds, and on the floodplains of East Asia being swamped or dried up by dams…for the indigenous people and farmers of South America whose rivers, lakes, and wells have been destroyed by mining…water is quickly becoming a major issue—and a major issue for Oxfam.
]]>"Mission incomplete: why civilians remain at risk in eastern Chad" reviews the performance of the UN protection mission one year after the UN Security Council authorized the mission. The report finds a mission marked by serious delays in deployment, bureaucratic hurdles and a lack of coordination. As a result, almost half a million vulnerable people who fled their homes due to the conflicts in Darfur and Chad are not adequately protected and are exposed daily to attacks, thefts, rape and forced recruitment.
The mission, mandated by the UN Security Council in September 2007, is made up of two components: UN police (referred to by its French acronym MINURCAT) responsible for security inside refugee camps and sites for internally displaced people, and the European Union military force (EUFOR), responsible for general security. To date, only 320 Chadian police have been trained to provide security but have yet to be deployed. This law and order vacuum has resulted in increased attacks on aid workers and civilians as bandits can rob and kill with impunity.
"Having fled the violence in Darfur and Chad, people thought they had found sanctuary in the camps. But eastern Chad is a volatile, lawless land and they are now marooned, living under constant threat. Every day, people face the theft of livestock, attacks, robberies and rape. They are afraid to plant their fields or collect firewood. EUFOR troops are doing their job in attempting to keep a lid on the violence, but they cannot do it alone, and urgently need the back up of the mission's promised police" said Roland Van Hauwermeiren, Oxfam's Country Director in Chad.
The report finds that EUFOR, which is almost fully deployed, has made many feel safer by patrolling the main roads, destroying unexploded ordnances, and by positioning battalions around camps during rebel and government fighting. But the EU troops are a military force, not a police force, and are thus less capable of dealing with the upsurge in banditry and criminality.
While the UN must do more to protect civilians now, the report recognizes that without a comprehensive political solution to the internal crisis in Chad, there will be no hope of long-term security for the civilians who are currently at risk. Oxfam thus calls on the international community to start working for a negotiated settlement of the crisis in Chad.
"Chad deserves more than band-aids. If the root causes of this protracted crisis are not addressed, the mission will have spent resources and risked the lives of its personnel in vain. The United Nations Security Council, must task the UN Special Representative in Chad with developing an inclusive peace process, as only with this political mandate will the mission be truly capable of protecting the people and securing Chad's future," said Van Hauwermeiren.
With the mission's mandate coming up for renewal on the 24 September, Oxfam is urging the United Nations Security Council to ensure that the mission is capable of dealing with current security crisis in eastern Chad and giving people the protection they urgently need by:
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?As the conflict in Chad and Darfur continues, victims of violence remain desperately in need of basic support systems. Now more than ever it is critical that the international community work towards putting an end to this crisis,? said Not On Our Watch co-founder Matt Damon.
The grant allows for Oxfam to serve over 200,000 vulnerable people at a time of desperate need. Plagued with continuing violence, a lack of basic services, and depleted food rations, refugees and displaced persons are becoming more vulnerable to hunger, disease and poverty every day.
The funding provided to Oxfam will support immediate action to avert future hunger and provide access to clean water for some of the region?s most vulnerable citizens?displaced families and their host communities. The programs include:
These actions will better equip communities to deal with upcoming challenges. With improved water, sanitation, agriculture and income, more resources will be available in times of need.
Oxfam continues to provide vital assistance to more than 500,000 people affected by the crisis, both in Darfur and eastern Chad. The agency provides essential access to clean water and sanitation, public health education, and livelihoods opportunities and training.
"Living on the brink of disaster, any additional factor could result in a sudden crisis for the people of Chad," said Raymond C. Offenheiser, president of Oxfam America. ?The funding from Not On Our Watch helps Oxfam to plan for the future, and will help thousands of people to provide for themselves during lean times.?
]]>“Wherever I went you could hear the sound of gun shots. There were armed men around every corner,” said Anderson. “I couldn’t understand how violence like that could be so routine.” Commenting on conversations he had with a local he was traveling with, Anderson noted, “to me it’s a disaster, to him, it’s life.”
In Kebkabiya, a small town that has seen its population swell to over 60,000 people after thousands settled there to escape attacks on their own villages, he spoke with young people, ranging in age from 14 to 20, who had been displaced from their homes and are living in temporary shelters. He asked them all the same question:
“If there was one thing you could ask Americans to help you with, what would it be?”
Anderson found that the responses varied little regardless of whom he asked. He heard two things consistently —the need for health care and technical training for jobs. The health care Anderson heard about is not what immediately comes to mind in the U.S.
“They need shovels to fill in holes and ditches in their schoolyards because during the rainy season, stagnant pools of water form and become breeding grounds for mosquitoes that carry infectious diseases like malaria. In addition, many of the young people in Darfur are looking for training in technical skills—things like carpentry and metalwork so they can get jobs and help to rebuild their communities,” said Anderson.
Also, he observed that young people did not have any way to become active participants and leaders in their communities, to have a voice in what was happening around them.
“For teens in the U.S, there are so many ways to connect with each other and get involved in things that matter to us. In Darfur, so many of the young people I met would love to go to school, but don’t because they can’t afford it, or because the roads to the schools are unsafe and they worry about what might happen to them if they try to get to class,” said Anderson. “For those who are able to go to school, that’s all they can do in a day. Once they return from class, they have to stay at home since they are not allowed to leave their homes after dark because of security concerns.”
Anderson approached Oxfam about going to Darfur after co-founding a successful national high school challenge to raise awareness and funds for Darfur by using the social networking site, Facebook. After helping to raise over $300,000, part of which helped to fund Oxfam’s relief effort in Darfur, he felt the next logical step was to see the region for himself and bring his experiences back to share with other teens.
“I feel it is my moral obligation to be a representative of my generation, and to show that we have a strong voice and can take positions on important issues playing out here in the U.S. and abroad,” Anderson concluded.
Oxfam took Anderson on in this ambassador role as a reflection of his contribution to raising awareness on the crisis in Darfur and recognition of the opportunity to involve and educate the next generation of leaders.
Oxfam is providing vital assistance on the ground to about 500,000 people affected by the crisis, both in Darfur and eastern Chad. In addition, access to clean, safe water and sanitation as well as basic necessities such as blankets, soap, and jerry cans for carrying water are provided. Oxfam also offers public health education programs to try and prevent the spread of disease; and, as the crisis continues, Oxfam is implementing projects to provide livelihood opportunities to help people find some alternative to the reliance on external aid.
In addition to its humanitarian relief efforts in Darfur, Oxfam is calling for a full and effective ceasefire by all the many parties of the conflict; better protection of civilians and aid workers, and improved humanitarian access so that aid agencies can reach those in need.
]]>"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 people of Darfur urgently need the help of organizations like Oxfam,” said George Clooney, Not On Our Watch co-founder.
The grant aids Oxfam's ability to serve over 500,000 displaced people in Darfur and neighboring Chad. In addition to supporting the provision of urgently needed clean water, safe sanitation, and other public health work, the donation will fund longer term needs:
"More than three years of violence in Darfur has devastated millions of people and left them on the edge of survival," said President of Oxfam America, Raymond C. Offenheiser. “We have to find a way to reach more people, get them the support they need, and help them plan for the future.”
Not On Our Watch was founded by George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle and Jerry Weintraub to focus global attention and resources to stop and prevent mass atrocities. Drawing on the powerful voice of citizen artists, activists, and cultural leaders, our mission is to generate lifesaving humanitarian assistance and protection for the vulnerable, marginalized, and displaced. Web site: www.notonourwatchproject.org.
]]>On Saturday, Nov. 10, 31 concerts will take place in the United States, as well as in Australia and South Africa, showcasing bands that share the common goal of promoting peace in the African region. Fans can show their support for the cause by attending one of the concerts. MySpace has arranged for a portion of the proceeds from each concert to be donated to Oxfam (http://www.myspace.com/Oxfam), a leading international relief and development organization, and to the Save Darfur Coalition, a non-profit organization dedicated to raising public awareness about the insecurity in Darfur.
“MySpace is committed to empowering our users to get involved and make a positive impact on the world around them,” said Jeff Berman, senior vice president of public affairs at MySpace. “Rock for Darfur is just one extension of our efforts to encourage the MySpace community to take action, in small, but meaningful ways, and help combat one of the world’s greatest humanitarian crises.”
The “Rock for Darfur” concerts will feature bands from around the world representing all genres of music including pop, rock, country, punk, and reggae, uniting to make a positive impact on the Darfur crisis. Last year’s 22 “Rock for Darfur” concerts together raised $50,000 for relief efforts. Oxfam will use the funds raised to help provide 500,000 people in Chad and the Darfur region of Sudan with basic supplies such as clean water, shelter, blankets, soap, and disease prevention programs. The Save Darfur Coalition works specifically to support awareness and advocacy programs that are vital to ending the Darfur crisis.
"Rock for Darfur" concerts on Nov. 10 will feature:
"Oxfam is a feisty campaigning organization," said Kidjo. "I support them not just because of their amazing humanitarian work in countries like Chad but also because they campaign and tackle the root reasons why people are poor. I want to shine a light on the terrible situation in Chad and Darfur and this song which means so much to me, is my way of trying to make a difference not just through the donated sales of the single but by hopefully reminding people that poverty and suffering is not that far away from all of us."
Kidjo has a longstanding relationship with Oxfam and met with its humanitarian workers on her recent trip to Chad. After the trip she called on world leaders to use all diplomatic means to establish an immediate ceasefire in the neighboring Darfur region in Sudan. There are now more than four million people in need of humanitarian aid in Darfur, with two million of them living as virtual prisoners in camps they are too scared to leave. In eastern Chad, there are some 230,000 refugees from Darfur in 12 camps, with another 180,000 'internally displaced' Chadians forced from their homes.
]]>G8 countries are "running to stand still" said Max Lawson, Senior Policy Advisor at Oxfam, as last minute talks between officials ended inconclusively, with some countries reluctant even to reiterate past aid promises on the eve of the summit.
Lawson: "G8 officials have today been involved in feverish negotiation over the final texts but have failed to agree. Italy, Canada and Japan are leading the scramble for reverse gear, refusing even to reiterate promises to increase aid that they made in 2005 - mainly because they have been busy breaking those promises ever since."
"The extra aid that was promised at the G8 summit in Gleneagles two years ago could put millions of kids into school, employ nurses, doctors and teachers, buy medicines for people with AIDS—literally save lives. But collectively, the G8 looks set to fall short of their pledge by a massive $30bn. If they do not get back on track, 5 million extra people will die by 2010. This is about a lot more than numbers on a piece of paper."
Climate change is the other issue that remains controversial ahead of the official summit start on Wednesday, with Germany pushing for consensus on a global stabilization target and proposals for multilateral negotiations on a post-2012 framework. The first phase of the Kyoto protocol runs from 2008-2012.
Lawson: "Over the last few days we have seen a plethora of new initiatives on climate change, led by former leading naysayers, but we don't need a new process or approach. There is already a process in place at the UN that countries should follow, and the G8 should support, so that they can come up with a global solution to global problem.
"We are already seeing poor people in developing countries suffering the effects of climate change. They can't wait for the results of a beauty parade of different country initiatives. They need the G8 to provide money now to help them adapt to climate change, while at the same time agreeing on measures to cut emissions and limit global warming to as far below 2 degrees as possible."
Also over the weekend, violent protests attracted the attention of G8 watchers and the media. Peaceful campaigning was overshadowed by violence and injury.
Lawson: "This summit must not be remembered for broken promises and burning cars. There is huge potential here and a huge chance for the world richest and most powerful countries to live up to their responsibility to support development and poverty reduction in the developing world. Failure to act on this would be unforgivable."
]]>Yesterday afternoon's incident is a regular crime which is undermining the humanitarian work in the region. In the last two years around 70 vehicles belonging to humanitarian organizations have been lost to gunmen operating in the northern border region of Chad
In this case, three health engineers and two local drivers were traveling in two cars, in convoy with a third from another international humanitarian organization, when they were held up at gunpoint on the road from Abeche to Guereda in Eastern Chad. All three international staff - a Frenchman and Ugandan based in the UK and an Indian national - were injured by the gunmen before they were abandoned in the bush. With the help of the local authorities they later located two of the cars and used them to travel back to Abeche. One Oxfam car remained missing but has now been found by the authorities.
Penny Lawrence, Oxfam's International Director said,
"Safety of our staff is paramount. Oxfam has strict security guidelines and continually adapts its working practices to try to avoid an occurrence like this. Thankfully no one was badly injured but it is very traumatic for those involved."
Chad is currently host to 230,000 refugees from neighboring Darfur, and 170,000 internally displaced people, putting increasing pressure on its own local scarce resources. Levels of banditry and lawlessness continue to escalate in this remote and isolated region making the delivery of much needed humanitarian aid difficult at best.
Penny Lawrence said,
"The threat of attack is emotionally and financially a heavy burden for those who work in the region and increases the difficulties of working in what is already a very challenging environment. Action by the international community is urgently needed to ensure the protection of civilians living and working in northern Chad whether they are from Darfur, Chad or from the wider international community working on humanitarian aid."
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