Seventy per cent of Afghans surveyed see poverty and unemployment as the major cause of the conflict in their country, according to new research by international aid agency Oxfam and a group of Afghan organisations. Read full release »
The new Afghan government must urgently devote greater resources to building up to 6,000 new schools, training upwards of 5,000 new midwives and professionalising the police force, according to aid agencies working throughout Afghanistan. Read full release »
As the Ethiopian government issues an emergency appeal for food aid, international aid agency Oxfam is calling for a radical shake up in the way the world deals with food crises in Ethiopia and other countries. In its Band Aids and Beyond report released today to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the worst famine in Ethiopia’s history, Oxfam said there has been a “knee-jerk reaction” to addressing food crises dominated by sending food aid which fails to offer long-term solutions to hunger. Read full release »
Today marks six years since the bombing of the UN office in Baghdad. The casualties from that blast included the top UN official in Iraq Sérgio Vieira de Mello and other UN staff working to help Iraqi civilians in the middle of war. The UN has designated today the inaugural World Humanitarian Day, to honour aid workers and the jobs they do in difficult and dangerous environments. Read full release »
The Rudd Government has made a minor increase to its overseas aid spending, but fallen short of what's needed to help the people being hurt most by the global financial crisis, international aid agency Oxfam said tonight. Read full release »
The Rudd Government must help the people hit hardest by the global financial crisis and deliver a real increase in foreign aid spending in tomorrow night's budget, international aid agency Oxfam said today. Read full release »
The number of people affected by climatic crises is projected to rise by 54 per cent to 375 million people over the next six years, threatening to overwhelm the world's ability to respond, according to new figures released by international aid agency Oxfam today. Read full release »
Asylum seekers trying to reach Australia's shores are desperate to escape persecution and violence in their home countries. Read full release »
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and other G20 leaders have delivered a vital pick-me-up for poor countries struggling to survive the economic crisis, but much more is needed to ensure their long-term recovery, international aid agency Oxfam said today Read full release »
Australian spending up, but more still needed A 10% increase in global foreign aid spending by OECD member countries announced overnight overnight is welcome but still nowhere near enough to meet the needs of poor countries in the face of global economic meltdown, international aid agency Oxfam said today. Read full release »
Oxfam is calling on Pacific Brands and other major Australian clothing companies to take more responsibility for the rights of the overseas workers who make their goods. This follows today's release of a report that found a Hong Kong-based company that coordinates the manufacture of some Pacific Brands products rates poorly on efforts to eradicate sweatshops. Read full release »
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd must use his position as a regional leader to make sure this week's G20 meeting doesn't leave the world's poor paying the highest price for the current financial crisis, according to international aid agency Oxfam. Read full release »
The World Bank and the IMF must cushion developing countries from the financial crisis that is threatening to hit them hard, while also tackling the challenges of food and fuel price increases, international agency Oxfam said today. Read full release »
As the Rudd Government vies for a spot on the UN Security Council in 2013, the protection of civilians throughout the world from conflict and mass atrocity crimes should be at the heart of Australia's foreign policy, according to Oxfam Australia. Read full release »
As world leaders meet in New York at a special summit on poverty - the High-Level Event on the Millennium Development Goals - aid agency Oxfam has slammed the lack of urgency by the international community in tackling the ongoing food crisis now affecting close to one billion people. Read full release »
Kevin Rudd's attendance at Thursday's UN meeting on aid and development in New York is vital to help ensure that the needs of poor people in our region - struggling with the crippling impacts of rising food and fuel prices and climate change - are well represented at the international forum. Read full release »
Today's high level international meeting on aid effectiveness is an important opportunity to make aid work better for poor people, International aid agency Oxfam said today. Read full release »
International aid agency Oxfam has produced a blueprint for Australia's new engagement with Pacific nations, as Prime Minister Kevin Rudd heads to Niue this week for the Pacific Islands Forum. Read full release »
Oxfam Australia welcomes the Government's announcement today of a pilot seasonal scheme for Pacific workers. Read full release »
As millions of people across this region struggle to find enough food to eat each day, Kevin Rudd must use his influence as a regional leader to ensure G8 places the world's food crisis at the top of its agenda this week. Read full release »