We need new policies to deal with Coronavirus in the Middle East and North Africa
Coronavirus has crippled all aspects of normalcy in people’s lives and the economies in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), despite the region being relatively spared larger outbreaks as seen in other parts of the world. But the deficits in basic services and social protection shortfalls, or decent and dignified work, means we must be braced for things to …
The role of trust in tackling coronavirus in the world’s most vulnerable communities
Trust may be one of the most important resources the world must draw on as we grapple with an unprecedented health and economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Whilst recorded cases and deaths due to the virus are on the rise across Africa and in many countries in Asia, preventative lockdown and curfew measures are already taking a toll …
With coronavirus spreading, time to repurpose the arms industry to meet human need
All over the world we have radically changed our ways of life as the devastating spread of coronavirus transforms our communities. Governments’ priorities have changed overnight, things that seemed impossible only weeks ago are now seeing urgent action. Homeless people have been rehoused quickly. Passenger planes whose flights could not possibly be reduced in the face of climate breakdown are suddenly grounded. …
Care, poverty and Coronavirus across Britain
The Coronavirus pandemic has brought into sharp focus the importance of care both in Britain and globally. Yet, put simply, if you are a carer, paid or unpaid, for children or adults, you are more likely to be in poverty. This is not right. Oxfam works to tackle poverty everywhere, including in Britain. To do that, it’s impossible to ignore …
The 2020 Jubilee: Stop all debt payments now!
This week, nearly all the world’s governments will hold online talks at the Spring Meetings of the IMF and World Bank. The biggest countries – the G20 – must lead and push not only for the a cancellation of debt payments to governments, but also to debts owed to international institutions like the World Bank and IMF, and debts owed …
How to build community trust to fight Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
The world’s second-biggest Ebola outbreak is still raging in DRC, with more than 1,400 cases and 900 deaths. Research has shown that distrust is one of the biggest obstacles in this Ebola fight. Oxfam’s Andrea Vera Nava outlines three ways to work with local communities to build their trust and increase the success of an Ebola response in a conflict …