Laura Gyte describes why Oxfam intervened in a court case brought against the UK government over arms sales. UPDATE: on 20 June the Court of Appeal ruled that UK arms sales to Saudi Arabia are unlawful. In April, the Court of Appeal heard a claim brought by Campaign Against the Arms Trade (CAAT) on whether the UK government’s decision to …
Debt: a noose around Somalia’s future
Full debt cancellation is the only way forward for Somalia, write Dustin Barter, Oxfam’s Senior Campaigns and Policy Manager in Somalia, and Mohamed A. Ahmed, Independent Debt Specialist. As the African Union Summit kicks off in Addis Adaba this week, Somalia remains swamped in debt, struggling to kick-start a more positive trajectory. Debt relief, a once hot topic (thanks Bono!), …
Yemen: civilians are not a target
This World Humanitarian Day, following a recent airstrike on a school bus, Alexandros Yiannopoulos explains why Oxfam is calling for a ceasefire to protect civilians in Yemen. In Northern Yemen last week, as I was preparing to write this blog, 41 children on a school trip were killed by a Saudi Coalition airstrike. All loss of life is a tragedy, …
If we don’t make sacrifices, who will?
Oxfam emergency team leader Cecilia shares her experiences on the front line in South Sudan. I’ve seen a lot in my job. As an emergency responder, I am usually close to the front line and the people who have fled from it. I have seen people shot as they collect drinking water from a river and people giving every last …
Pushing for peace in Gaza
Life-saving aid destined for water, sanitation and health care is being blocked from reaching Gaza. Alison Martin reflects on the impact of new restrictions as explained in our joint agency briefing. Last time I was in Gaza I was seven months pregnant and I left hoping that by the time my son was born, things might be better for babies …
Gaza is dying in front of everybody
Tim Holmes reports back on his recent visit to Gaza and reflects on the challenges people living there face in their daily lives. A powerful smell hit me as I entered Gaza a fortnight ago. Not the smell of burning tyres from the ongoing protests, or the tear gas that has been used in response, but the smell of raw …
Conflicts don’t just end, they are transformed into peace
Twenty years on from the Good Friday Agreement Fionna Smyth reflects on the process of conflict resolution and the role of humanitarian organizations. Growing up in Northern Ireland in the 1970s I experienced the trauma of conflict first hand. Some of my friends and family suffered directly; others were scarred in less visible ways, from the hyper-vigilance, the lack of …
Women’s rights in South Sudan: how do you empower women in a country in conflict?
[buzzsprout episode=’2559229′ player=’true’] How do you help empower women in a conflict zone? In South Sudan, Oxfam is pushing to help women make money through agriculture and small businesses, with the aim of boosting their ability to claim their rights in the household and community. In this podcast Anne Daniel Ali, Director-General of the Ministry of Gender and Social Welfare …