When disaster strikes around the world, we move quickly with our partners, to provide life-saving assistance to those in need. Once the immediate danger has passed, we work to rebuild lives and reduce the risk of future disasters.
Here are some of the current emergencies we’re responding to around the globe:
Photo: Jocelyn Carlin/Panos/OxfamAUS
Landslide in Papua New Guinea
On 24 January, a serious landslide struck the Highlands of Papua New Guinea, near the town of Tari. While it’s still unclear how extensive the damage is, initial reports indicate that 60 or more people were buried by the landslide. Oxfam has joined the rapid assessment team put together by the PNG National Disaster Centre, and we're monitoring the situation closely.
Donate to our International Crisis fund to help us respond to emergencies when they arise
A resident searches floodwaters for items to salvage after flash floods brought by Typhoon Washi (Sendong). Photo: REUTERS/Stringer. www.alertnet.org
Flooding in Philippines
More than 1,000 people have been killed and more than 1 million affected after tropical storm Washi hit the southern Philippines on the weekend of 17-18 December. Oxfam is currently responding by providing water and sanitation support to around 50,000 people, distributing hygiene kits and providing access to clean water and latrines.
Find out more about our response
Donate to our International Crisis fund to help us respond to emergencies when they arise
Photo: David Levene/Oxfam GB
East Africa food crisis
The Horn of Africa is being devastated by the most serious drought in over 60 years. Affecting Northern Kenya, Somalia and southern Ethiopia, millions of people are facing starvation in an ongoing food crisis that has been worsened by conflict, and rising food prices.
Photo: Ami Vitale/Oxfam GB
West Africa food crisis
Millions of people in West Africa are at risk from a likely food crisis in 2012. High risk countries include Mauritania, Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali and Chad. Oxfam is gearing up our work to meet the needs of the most vulnerable people. We're working in some of the affected areas, helping communities to increase their resilience to the coming crisis and getting ready to provide food assistance.
Photo: Jason P. Howe/Oxfam
Food crisis in Afghanistan
Afghanistan is currently experiencing devastating drought across 14 provinces, resulting in severe food and water shortages across the north, north-east and west of the country. Oxfam is there, responding with water, sanitation and food, but this crisis could become a catastrophe unless international donors act quickly.
Find out more about our response in Afghanistan
Donate to our International Crisis fund to help us respond to emergencies when they arise
Photo: Tariq Masood Malik/Oxfam
Floods in Pakistan
In August 2011, Pakistan was again hit by monsoon rains and flooding in Sindh province. This is the second year of flooding in Pakistan, and many of those affected had not fully recovered from last year’s massive floods. Oxfam is responding by supplying clean water and sanitation to nearly 850,000 people affected. We also have plans to help people get access to food and are developing projects to help people earn a living.
Find out more about our response in Pakistan
Donate to our International Crisis fund to help us respond to emergencies when they arise
Photo: Oxfam
Haiti cholera outbreak
In late May 2011, a new outbreak of cholera emerged in the Carrefour area, south of Port-au-Prince. We are currently distributing soap and aquatabs to local families, and coordinating our efforts with other agencies in the area for maximum efficiency.
Find out more about our Haiti cholera response
Donate to our International Crisis fund to help us respond to emergencies when they arise
Photo: Caroline Gluck/Oxfam
Ivory Coast crisis
A humanitarian crisis is intensifying in Ivory Coast after four months of political violence, causing thousands of people to flee to neighbouring Liberia. Oxfam is providing clean water to refugees who have sought safety in Liberia and is sending aid experts into northern Ivory Coast to evaluate how to respond to the crisis.
Photo: REUTERS/KYODO, courtesy www.trust.org, Alertnet
Earthquake and tsunami in Japan
A massive 8.9-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Japan on 11 March causing a major tsunami in the Pacific. As the Japanese government has a very strong capacity to respond to emergencies, Oxfam did not launch a major humanitarian response. Instead Oxfam Japan and its partners assisted people on the margins of society who may otherwise had difficulty accessing emergency relief.
Photo: AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena
Floods in Sri Lanka
Relentless monsoon rains beginning in January 2011 caused flooding across Sri Lanka, affecting more than 1 million people. Oxfam provided essential support to people affected by the crisis, distributing cooked food, tarpaulins and hygiene kits.
Find out more about our response
Donate to our International Crisis fund to help us respond to emergencies when they arise
Photo: REUTERS/Jairo Castilla courtesy alertnet.org
Floods in Colombia
From late 2010 to early 2011, Colombia endured its worst flooding in 60 years. More than 2 million people were affected, and more than 300 died. Oxfam was there to provide much-needed clean water and sanitation to flood-affected communities. Now, a mere matter of months later, Colombia’s current wet season is already causing widespread damage, with floods and landslides expected to continue until June 2011.
Find out more about the floods and our response
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Photo: REUTERS/Dwi Oblo courtesy alternet.org
Disasters in Indonesia
In late October 2010, Indonesia was struck by an earthquake and tsunami in Sumatra and a volcanic eruption in Java. Oxfam worked with the Indonesian government and other agencies on the ground to coordinate a response to both emergencies. In Java, where nearly 70,000 people have been displaced by the eruption of Mt Merapi, we distributed hygiene kits and sent mobile water treatment units to Yogyakarta to support the response for clean water distribution in Sleman and Klaten districts.
Find out more about our Indonesian response
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Photo: Pablo Tosco/Oxfam Spain
Earthquake in Haiti
A 7.0 earthquake hit the nation of Haiti on 12 January 2010. Oxfam is focussed on providing Haitians with the tools and assistance needed to rebuild their country. We also responded to the cholera outbreak that began in October 2010.
Find out more about our response in Haiti
Donate to our International Crisis fund to help us respond to emergencies when they arise
Photo: Evan Davies/OxfamAUS
Typhoon in Laos
Typhoon Ketsana hit southern Laos in September 2009, causing flooding, strong winds and heavy rainfall. Oxfam focused on providing access to safe water, emergency food supplies and livelihoods support. With the onset the colder weather, we provided blankets and jackets to help ward off the cold. Thanks to your support, we've now closed our Asia-Pacific Emergency Appeal.
Donate to our International Crisis fund to help us respond to emergencies when they arise
Photo: Nicki Bennett/Oxfam
Crisis in Sudan
As the process of nation-building begins in South Sudan, Oxfam and other agencies are urging donors to set development priorities that will ensure a hopeful future for the people of the world’s newest country. The future of the nation continues to be jeopardised by conflict.
Find out more about the situation in Sudan
Donate to our International Crisis fund to help us respond to emergencies when they arise
Photo: STR New/Reuters
Sri Lanka conflict
The end of fighting between the government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in 2010 caused another influx of people into temporary camps. Oxfam expanded its emergency response to provide water and sanitation to over 100,000 traumatised and exhausted people caught in the conflict.
Find out more about the situation in Sri Lanka
Donate to our International Crisis fund to help us respond to emergencies when they arise
Take action
- Donate to our International Crisis Fund to ensure that we can continue to help those in need during emergencies.
Learn more
- Read about how we've responded to past emergencies
- Find out how we respond in times of crisis.
