LEARNING: The Iraqi army’s planned and ongoing counter-offensive against ISIS is likely to lead to the displacement of between 500,000 and 1.5 million people from the city of Mosul and surrounding areas. They will need urgent humanitarian assistance, including shelter, food, and water. Oxfam with the IRC has conducted a Pre-Crisis Market Analysis (PCMA) to inform preparations, here Corrie Sissons, …
Yemen: all we can do is help people survive
ON THE GROUND REFLECTION: The conflict which escalated one year ago in Yemen has created one of the world’s biggest humanitarian emergencies and risks pushing millions into famine. Simone Carter, Oxfam emergency responder in Yemen, describes the daily reality of civilian suffering and the challenges of delivering a programme in a conflict zone. As much as I may not like …
The human dimension: Greece’s escalating humanitarian crisis
ON THE GROUND REFLECTION: At every EU migration summit in recent months, border security has trumped the safety and wellbeing of people on the move. This has been causing human misery and suffering for the tens of thousands of women, men and children now stranded in Greece and the Western Balkans. Our Advocacy & Policy Lead in Greece, Renata Rendón, …
South Sudan: a battle of the sexes
Concepts of masculinity and femininity are deeply embedded in cultural beliefs and practices which underpin violence against women and inequality. Here Protection Project Manager, Kerry Akers, reflects on the nuances between gender and the roles of protector, victim and perpetrator in conflict affected areas of South Sudan. When the village is attacked the boys big enough to fight run with …
El Niño in Ethiopia: “What will happen to us?”
Ethiopia, a country where up to 85 percent of people depend on rain-fed agriculture, is facing its worst drought in 50 years, resulting in a massive food and water insecurity crisis. Millions of people are in need of urgent humanitarian assistance. Catherine Meredith, outlines the scale of the emergency and how it has been exacerbated by climate change and the …
Displacement in eastern DRC: a never ending story
The number of refugees around the world is increasingly making headlines, but what of the plight of the 38 million displaced people who have fled to another part of their own country? Jose Barahona, Oxfam’s Country Director for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), describes the suffering of displaced communities Oxfam works with in eastern DRC where conflict has been …