Emergencies

Immediate relief

When emergency strikes and people are displaced, there's no greater danger than waterborne disease—and no greater need for Oxfam.

Standard of excellence

For more than 20 years, Oxfam has set the standard for the quick and expert delivery of clean water, showers, and latrines. Consider that

• Oxfam's water kits—pipes, pumps, taps, and tanks—can be trucked or flown in to any situation in under 48 hours.
• Oxfam's water and sanitation systems are used by the UN, Red Cross, and other agencies.
• Oxfam maintains a continuing humanitarian presence in approximately 70 countries, including Sudan, Rwanda, Ethiopia, and other hotspots. This presence allows us to respond quickly when emergencies arise.
• Oxfam responds to every major refugee crisis, averaging two to four large-scale emergencies annually.

Tools of the trade

Engineers: Oxfam's approximately 50 international technical staff are mechanical and civil engineers and hydrologists by trade. In emergencies, Oxfam recruits additional staff, such as the 1,800 local staff who assisted one million refugees during the 1994 Rwandan Genocide.

Tanks: One Oxfam water tank holds and purifies 70,000 liters—enough to provide daily water for 4,666 people. These "bladders" can be flown in and set up in a matter of hours while truckloads of water are being driven to the scene.

Buckets: Used to distribute water, the Oxfam bucket has a built-in cap and spigot to keep water clean. The bucket also contains a standard hygiene kit with cooking utensils, detergent, and disinfectant soap.

Lasting change

Many poor communities are vulnerable to the same crises over and over again. Oxfam seeks not simply to rebuild what was, but to construct a better reality—improving lives and preparing people for the next disaster.

Oxfam's innovative approach to disaster relief involves three critical phases:

Before disasters occur, we've got a plan.

In more than 100 countries, Oxfam has contingency plans to respond to emergencies immediately and effectively. Working through local partners, Oxfam helps communities secure radio access, identify evacuation routes, and designate responsibilities—preparing them to implement their own solutions, rather than waiting for outside aid.

When disaster strikes, we're already there.

Most lives are lost within the first 15 days of disaster. In addition to acting on community-specific contingency plans, Oxfam partners help provide water, sanitation, and other forms of emergency assistance.

When others have left the scene, we're still there.

Many relief efforts last only three to six months following a disaster. Oxfam takes the time needed to help people restore their assets and livelihoods. This can take years, but the payoff is great: by strengthening communities, Oxfam helps build resistance to emergencies in the future.