The organization says that millions of lives are riding on this event, which offers the best chance of ending the violence and alleviating the suffering of the millions of Syrians caught up in the conflict. More than 2.3m refugees have fled their homes to neighboring countries and an estimated 9.3m Syrians are in need of humanitarian assistance inside Syria.

Oxfam’s advisor on humanitarian and security issues, Shaheen Chughtai, who is in Geneva this week, said: “Geneva 2 offers a real opportunity for a major breakthrough for all those who are suffering the effects of this devastating crisis. This chance must not be squandered.

“While negotiations will not resolve the crisis overnight, they should instead deliver a clear timeline and process for doing so. Time will fly this week – and every second in Montreux counts.

“The litmus test for success is clear. We need to see an immediate halt to the violence, which is tearing Syria apart, and concrete steps for improving the humanitarian situation. Whatever comes out of the talks, strides must be made to alleviate the humanitarian suffering of ordinary Syrians – this cannot be used as a political bargaining chip. All those people in desperate need, including in besieged towns and communities, must be able to access life-saving aid – the government and opposition must agree this as an absolute priority.”

Oxfam wants to see the full and active participation of women and civil society organizations in the political process moving forward.

“It is critical that a concerted and systematic effort is made to end the marginalization of Syria’s peaceful majority. This means meaningfully involving women and Syrian civil society organisations in the talks– and not leaving them out in the cold,” Chughtai added.

Oxfam called for Syrian civil society groups to be involved in the implementation of negotiated agreements, including monitoring ceasefires and human rights violations, conducting reconciliation efforts, and helping to support rule of law as this will help ensure that any final agreement enjoys broad public support – and will last.

And the aid agency also said the peace talks should involve all governments and institutions involved in the conflict and those intending to play a part in Syria’s reconstruction.

Oxfam called on the international community not to undermine the talks and said those attending must agree a complete halt to the arms and ammunition transfers into Syria, which are fuelling the conflict and causing so much of the devastation.

Oxfam continues to provide humanitarian assistance in Syria and to refugees in Lebanon and Jordan.

The organization urged the international community to listen to those most affected by this crisis.

Um Hayel, aged 44, a former agricultural worker from Ghota, rural Damascus, now living as a refugee in Zaatari Camp, Jordan, sent a message to representatives attending the Geneva Conference. She said: “I hope we will go back to our lands, to plant and harvest. I hope it will become a safe and stable place to be. And the air strikes and the killing come to an end.”

Abu Hussein, a former shepherd from rural Damascus, also living as a refugee in Zaatari camp, Jordan, said: “All we want is to go back to our country and for peace to prevail. We want the conflict to be resolved. We want to go back to our villages….These are our hopes.”

ENDS

3. In 2013, reporting through the UN’s financial tracking service shows that 62.5 percent of funding from the Syria response was channeled through UN agencies,  20.9 percent through international NGOs and a little over 1 percent was given as bi-lateral funding to governments.  Of the funding provided to NGOs 98.34 percent of the funding went to international NGOs and only 1.64 percent to national NGOs.

4. Russia appears in the UN’s Financial Tracking Service (FTS) as one of the top 20 donors for the Syria Humanitarian Appeal in 2013.  However, the figures in our fair share analysis looks at Russia’s total contribution to the combined Syria and Regional refugee response in 2012 and 2013, as well as ICRC and IFRC appeals and the national appeals for the governments of Jordan and Lebanon. The figures are taken from the most up to date data provided in the FTS. This figure is taken from the UN’s FTS website on 10 January 2014

The United States ties for 21^st with Japan in spite of having the most affordable food on the planet and a high rank on food quality. Extreme levels of obesity and diabetes leave the U.S. 120^th out of 125 countries when it comes to healthy eating.

“Having sufficient healthy and affordable food is not something that much of the world enjoys,” said Raymond C. Offenheiser, President of Oxfam America. “Across the globe, particularly in developing countries, far too many people are consuming more and more unhealthy food.  Paradoxically, more than 800 million people cannot get enough nutritious food to eat. Governments and the food industry are failing to ensure that everyone is able to eat healthfully, despite there being more than enough food to go around.”

European countries occupy the entire top 20 with Australia tied in 8^th place. African countries occupy the bottom 30 places in the table except for four – Laos, Bangladesh, Pakistan and India are there too.

Oxfam’s “Good Enough to Eat” index compares 125 countries where full data is available to create a snapshot of the different challenges people face in getting food. Oxfam’s GROW campaign is calling for urgent reform to the way food is produced and distributed around the world to end the scandal of one in eight people going hungry despite there being more than enough to feed everyone. The new index looks at whether people have enough to eat, food quality, affordability, and dietary health.

On affordability, the UK is among the worst performers in Western Europe, sharing 20th position with Cyprus. Food in Guinea, The Gambia, Chad and Iran costs people two-and-a-half times more than other consumer goods, making those the most expensive countries for citizens to buy food. Angola and Zimbabwe suffer from the most volatile food prices, researchers found.

The countries whose citizens struggle for enough food, with the worst rates of malnourishment and underweight children, are Burundi, Yemen, Madagascar and India. On the other side of the table, Cambodia and Burundi are countries that score better by having among the lowest levels of obesity and diabetes in the world, while US, Mexico, Fiji, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia score most poorly with high rates of obesity and diabetes.

Iceland scores a perfect mark for the quality of its food, in terms of nutritional diversity and safe water. Iceland’s obesity and diabetes levels push it down the table, to 13^th spot.

Oxfam is working worldwide to provide long-term solutions that will help people grow enough food to eat and make a living. In Chad, Oxfam is helping farmers grow and diversify more crops, providing veterinary training to help ensure cattle are stronger and are helping to build more food storage, so that people are better prepared with the next drought conditions.

“Poverty and inequality are the real drivers of hunger,” said Offenheiser. “That is why Oxfam’s GROW campaign is pushing governments and the food industry for more investment in small-holder agriculture and better infrastructure to boost crop production, prevent waste and improve access to markets.”

The campaign engages supporters to seek an end to biofuels mandates, which are diverting food from hungry people to fuel tanks, action to tackle climate change, better regulation of food commodities markets to prevent food price hikes and improved land rights so people do not lose the land they rely upon to grow food.

Got to www.oxfamamerica.org/grow to get involved.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

See the report at: http://www.oxfamamerica.org/publications/good-enough-to-eat

Review the data at: http://www.oxfamamerica.org/publications/good-enough-to-eat-full-data

The rankings are visualized in full at: http://www.oxfam.org.uk/what-we-do/good-enough-to-eat

The index looks at four core concerns for consumers around the world, using two measures to help assess the challenges:
1. Do people have enough to eat? - Measured by levels of undernourishment and underweight children
2. Can people afford to eat? – Measured by food price levels compared to other goods and services and food price volatility
3. Is food of good quality? – Measured by diet diversification and access to clean and safe water
4. What are the health outcomes of people’s diet? – Measured by diabetes and obesity.

Eight established global data sources were identified that capture aspects of the food market relevant for this index. All figures are the most recently available global data sources from internationally recognised organisations – The Food and Agriculture Organisation, The World Health Organisation and the International Labour Organisation. To create a globally comparable index, the sources have global coverage, scoring between 134 and 200 countries and territories.

Each of the sources used different scales in measuring the countries, requiring a process to standardise them so that they could be compared. The standard MIN / MAX rescaling method was used, generating re-scaled values of 0-100 where 0 points is the minimum score (best) and 100 points is the maximum score (worst). The process is based on identifying the countries with the minimum and maximum scores in the original data, scoring them 0 and 100 respectively and then measuring how far every other country is from these maximum and minimum values.

All countries with data for each measure were included in the re-scaling process to ensure that the final result was a globally comparable one. However, only the countries that had data for all eight measures were included in the final index, with one exception. For most developed countries, there is no data available for the underweight children measure. For those countries that achieved the minimum score for the undernourishment measure they were assumed to also be amongst the best in the world for measures for underweight children. The Good Enough To Eat database therefore includes 125 countries. That some of the measures do not include minimum or maximum scores illustrates that there are countries that are better or worse but are not included in the index because they do not have data available for the other measures. Raw data of all countries is available.

Good Enough to Eat Table – the best and worst

Sources used:

Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO): www.fao.org/economic/ess/essfs/ess-fadata/en
World Health Organisation: www.fao.org/economic/ess/essfs/ess-fadata/en and http://apps.who.int/gho/data/view.main
International Labour Organisation (ILO): http://laborsta.ilo.org/STP/guest

Oxfam America is an international relief and development organization that creates lasting solutions to poverty, hunger, and injustice. Together with individuals and local groups in over 90 countries, Oxfam saves lives, helps people overcome poverty, and fights for social justice. Oxfam America is an affiliate of Oxfam. To join our efforts or learn more, go to www.oxfamamerica.org

Today, fewer Haitians are living in camps:  89% of the displaced population from the 2010 earthquake is no longer living in camps. Yet 172.000 people are still living under tattered tents, with limited access to essential services such as water and sanitation. If the return, resettlement or local integration solutions are not intensified this year, a large number of people without permanent housing solutions risk continued displacement and will remain vulnerable to shocks.

In order to address this challenge the government has designed a housing policy, which includes a coordination mechanism to discuss housing issues with stakeholders. Oxfam urges the government to ensure the participation of all relevant communities and local civil society organizations as well as other state institutions within the established coordination mechanisms.

Participation of citizens and local organizations is key to build effective governance structures through which Haitians can influence policy decisions and processes that affect them. Despite advancements, the number of permanent housing units built is still very low and the availability of housing is not sufficient to meet demand. Investments in neighborhoods need to be increased to provide basic services to the population.

“This 4th commemoration reminds us of the importance of reconstruction efforts, and how these need to follow and comply with norms, regulations and commitments that were set out since the tragic earthquake”, said Oxfam Associate Country Director Yolette Etienne. “We recognize that there have been positive efforts on behalf of the government in producing clear guidelines and regulations regarding reconstruction. These, however, need to be enforced and followed strictly if we wish to witness Haitian men and women exercising their right to a safe and secure home, as well as their right to education, food and life.”

Unfortunately housing is not the only pressing issue facing Haitians. In 2012 half of the suspected cholera cases in the world occurred in Haiti. Between January and December 2013, 57,377 suspected cases of cholera and 582 deaths were recorded, and another 45,000 new cases are expected for 2014.

Despite these worrying statistics, cholera cases have been reduced by over 50% since the outbreak in 2010. This improvement is a result of the persistent work of organizations such as Oxfam that have worked in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, DINEPA (the government water authority), local civil society organizations, and communities to set up technical structures, processes and in some cases, infrastructure to reduce the spread of the disease. Today, Haitians have taken on, improved, lead and owned these same structures and processes. Oxfam considers national ownership crucial to the formulation of sustainable solutions to the many development challenges Haiti faces today. International actors must continue to support these national efforts, complementing them and filling any gaps that might arise.

Another area of advancement is in disaster risk reduction. Over the past year, the national Civil Protection Directorate (DPC), has made considerable progress in reinforcing its capacities at all levels, including: coordination, information management, evacuation management and inclusion of internal displacement in preparedness and response planning. Oxfam has collaborated extensively with DPC, working together at national, departmental and community levels, improving disaster preparedness and reducing risks.

These concerted efforts between national and international actors are central not only for an effective reconstruction of the country, but also to build inclusive governance structures at all levels that respond to the needs of the most vulnerable.  Oxfam, however, urges the Haitian State to continue to develop effective decentralized governance structures to create an enabling environment and a conducive political momentum for youth and women, engaging them with national institutions and processes.

“What we need today for Haiti to stand on its own two feet is a collective effort between national and international actors, where each party brings their experience, expertise and skills to the table, under the leadership of the Haitian state,” Etienne concluded.

Ends/

Follow the Twitter debate: #InYourHands  #EnTusManos

The conflict in Syria is having a devastating human impact. More than 100,000 people have been killed, and nearly half of the country’s pre-war population is in need of humanitarian assistance inside the country. Oxfam is working in Syria as well as with refugees in Lebanon and Jordan, which between them are hosting more than 1.4 million Syrians. Based on this work, we offer the following recommendations for action by the United States Government:

1. Accelerate efforts to find a political solution to the crisis in Syria.
2. Focus on the more than 6.5 million Syrians displaced within their own country in addition to the more than 2.3 million refugees who have fled Syria.
3. Ensure that the refugee response reflects the reality that more than 80% of refugees live outside of formal camps.
4. Support host communities which are on the front lines of responding to the refugee crisis.
5. Enhance resettlement as a durable solution for refugees, while focusing humanitarian response efforts on the lion’s share of refugees who will remain in the region.
6. Invest now in reconciliation amongst refugees.
7. Recognize the long-term nature of this crisis and promote the contributions that refugees can make to the countries hosting them.

Context

1. Accelerate efforts to find a political solution to political solution to the crisis in Syria.

It is impossible to discuss the Syrian refugee crisis without considering the conflict which gave rise to it. Geneva II Peace talks scheduled to begin on 22 January could mark a critical step in bringing an end to the suffering of Syrians, and ultimately enabling the displaced to return home to rebuild their lives, but only if the United States works with partners to ensure the talks take place.

Talks must be inclusive and adequately represent all parts of Syrian society, including non-military actors. A formal mechanism for the involvement of civil society – developed in consultation with these groups themselves – could help ensure that their participation is meaningful and that civil society organizations feel ownership in the peace process. Women must play an active part, in line with UN Security Council Resolution 1325, and talks must be enforced by measures that will make a difference to Syrians including a ceasefire and allowing those in need to access aid.

2. Focus on the more than 6.5 million Syrians displaced within their own country in addition to the more than 2.3 million refugees who have fled Syria.

The United States has contributed generously to meet the humanitarian needs of both refugees and Syrians inside their country in need of assistance, including the more than 6.5 million people who have been internally displaced. The US must ensure that it provides such aid impartially and separate from political aims. With conflict ongoing however, too many people are unable to access aid. The United Nations has estimated that 2.5 million people are in hard-to-reach areas, many of whom have gone more than a year without receiving assistance. [1] While working to put an end to the conflict, the United States must work bilaterally and through the UN Security Council to ensure that both the Syrian Government and opposition groups immediately halt tactics of warfare that deny civilians their right to assistance. Additionally, they must remove bureaucratic obstacles to the delivery of aid, ensure the safety of humanitarian workers, allow unhindered access for national and international humanitarian organizations to reach all parts of the country where people are in need, and allow civilians to flee areas of active conflict.

3. Ensure that the refugee response reflects the reality that more than 80% of refugees live outside of formal camps.

The hundreds of thousands of refugees living in camps in Turkey, Jordan, and Iraq need an international response which provides for their needs, including adequate food, water, shelter, and security. Many more, however, live outside of formal camps, and often do not benefit from the same level of service delivery. Many do not have access to information about services available to them. In Lebanon, where there are no formal camps in place, refugees live in more than 1,200 locations around the country. Many are living in over-crowded rented apartments, half-constructed buildings, and tents and other makeshift structures that often provide little shelter from the elements. The United States must ensure that these and other refugees living outside of camps do not slip between the cracks, and allocate funding commensurate with the number of these refugees and their particular situations and needs.

4. Support host communities which are on the front lines of responding to the refugee crisis.

Syria’s neighbors have been incredibly generous in hosting and providing for refugees. But the huge number of refugees – in Lebanon, they account for an estimated 25% of the population – and the protracted nature of the crisis is straining this generosity as services and infrastructure are being over-stretched. At the same time, instances of tensions and conflicts between refugees and the communities hosting them are on the rise.

The United States must ensure that neighboring countries allow refugees to seek asylum. Moreover, assistance that is provided must be based on need rather than on status. Potentially large numbers of Syrians are not registering with the United Nations for a variety of reasons, including safety concerns, and they must not be excluded from receiving aid on this basis. Similarly, the particular needs of Palestinian Refugees from Syria cannot be overlooked, especially in light of their varying legal status in different countries in the region.

One potential solution is to focus assistance projects on areas known to be hosting large numbers of refugees so as to improve the situation for all people living in those areas. Given that refugees are often living in poorer and more marginalized parts of their host countries, this would benefit both refugees and host communities and serve to lower tensions between refugees and the communities which are hosting them.

5. Enhance resettlement as a durable solution for refugees, while focusing humanitarian response efforts on the lion’s share of refugees who will remain in the region.

The US can be proud of its status as the leading resettlement country for refugees. Resettlement to the United States and other countries is crucial for providing durable solutions to Syrians who are neither safe in Syria nor who can safely seek asylum in neighboring countries. We must ensure that Syrians with particular needs can receive protection through resettlement to the US, and explore the possibility of providing special measures for Syrian refugees given the acute nature of the crisis. Nevertheless, resettlement worldwide only provides durable solutions for approximately 1 percent of refugees [2], and so the US must continue to focus on efforts which ensure the needs of the approximately 99% of refugees who will continue to seek asylum in the region are fully met.

6. Invest now in reconciliation amongst refugees.

With sectarian and political tensions rising as the conflict in Syria enters its fourth year, it is crucial to both prevent conflict amongst refugees, and to plant the seeds for reconciliation that will enable safe return and sustainable peace in Syria following the conclusion of a formal peace agreement. The United States should invest in these efforts now, working to identify potential conflicts and preventing them before they take place, and enhancing efforts to reconcile communities which have been divided by the ongoing conflict.

7. Recognize the long-term nature of this crisis and promote the contributions that refugees can make to the countries hosting them.

Despite their longing to return home, refugees with whom Oxfam works in the region regularly highlight their perception that they will be displaced for a long time to come. Even after a peace agreement is eventually reached, destroyed homes, businesses, and infrastructure will make a speedy return difficult for many refugees.

In the meantime, refugees from Syria can contribute to the communities and countries in which they are living. Restrictive employment laws, however, are preventing many refugees from doing so, undermining their efforts to provide for themselves and their families. In Jordan, refugees are prohibited from working. In Lebanon, where refugees are prohibited from working in many sectors of the economy, jobs that are available are typically low-paid and offer little security. Jobs in agriculture and construction, two of the sectors which provide the majority of employment for Syrians in Lebanon, for example, dry up in the winter, leaving refugees without a steady income. A recent Oxfam study of more than 1500 refugees in Lebanon found families spiraling deeper into debt, living in cramped and overcrowded accommodation with few job prospects. With people spending more than twice of their monthly incomes on necessities including food and rent, more than three-quarters of households surveyed reported carrying debt. Fewer than twenty per cent of those surveyed were able to find work, but with every working person supporting more than five other people in addition to him or herself, every dollar earned is stretched to the limit. Refugees and vulnerable Lebanese need greater livelihoods opportunities, which could include cash-for-work programmes, savings schemes, vocational training and job placement, and training opportunities.

Across the region, while recognizing the legitimate concerns that refugee-hosting countries have for unemployment amongst their own citizens, the United States should engage with these countries to find ways to enable refugees to work which can contribute both to the wellbeing of refugees and to their host countries.

[1] UN OCHA, “Fighting continues to intensify across the country and its impact on civilians continues to grow,” http://www.unocha.org/top-stories/all-stories/syria-%E2%80%9Cfighting-continues-intensify-across-country-and-its-impact-civilians, 25 October 2013. Accessed 5 January 2014.

[2] UNHCR, Resettlement, http://www.unhcr.org/pages/4a16b1676.html, Accessed 5 January 2014.

Since violence broke out on 15 December 2013, over a thousand civilians have been killed and almost 200,000 have fled their homes to the bush or United Nations bases. They are living in increasingly dire conditions, as the ongoing conflict makes it difficult to provide humanitarian support to those in need.

Oxfam has been working in the region for 30 years and is collaborating with the UN and other agencies to get food, clean water and sanitation facilities to those most in need.

The aid agency is deeply concerned about the growing humanitarian crisis, including in the Awerial refugee camp on the banks of the Nile which is now home to 75,000 people and where it has deployed a rapid response team to urgently support in the delivery of clean water, construction of latrines and public health work.

Desire Assogbavi, Head of Oxfam’s African Union Liaison Office in Addis Ababa said: “Thousands of families already living in extreme poverty have been pushed from their homes and cut off from what they need to survive. We are doing what we can to ensure those most affected by the violence have their basic needs met, such as access to food, water and sanitary living conditions. But if the conflict continues, it will become even more difficult to meet the increasing needs of those affected.

“All parties to the negotiations taking place in Addis Ababa have a duty to their citizens to reach a swift and peaceful resolution to the conflict. Protection of human rights, regardless of citizens’ political or ethnic identity, must also be at the core of the resolution,”

“In addition, all parties must ensure that safe access is given to humanitarian actors to ensure live saving aid can reach those who need it the most.“

/ENDS

Notes to Editors

For interviews or more information, please contact Oxfam International Liaison Office with the African Union Acting Media Lead Faith Adhianbo,

Tel.: +251 11661 1601
Mobile: +251 925 374 692
E-mail: Faith.Adhiambo@OxfamInternational.org

Haiyan, the strongest storm ever recorded, took out bridges, clogged roads, and paralyzed seaports and airports, leaving more than 5,000 Filipinos dead, more than 4 million homeless, and millions without the means to support their families. Despite widespread destruction and massive logistical obstacles in the wake of the typhoon, fast action backed by generous international support and the solidarity of local people has helped millions of people survive and prevented major outbreaks of disease, Oxfam said.

Oxfam's Country Director in the Philippines Justin Morgan said: “It’s been immensely challenging to get aid through, but the response, both from the people of the Philippines and the international community, has been amazing. Our main concern now is supporting rural communities that have not received adequate assistance, and making sure people are able to quickly rebuild their homes, infrastructure and livelihoods in a way that will make them more resilient to future shocks.”

After the initial chaos caused by Haiyan’s impact, the United Nations, local, national and international organizations came together with the government of the Philippines to improve coordination and expand the aid effort. In Leyte, Oxfam was able to help 155,000 people, in North Cebu and Bantayan Island Oxfam helped 80,000; and on Samar, Oxfam has helped 11,200 people. Working together with the local authority in Tacloban, UNICEF and a local organisation called A Single Drop for Safe Water, Oxfam helped restore the city’s water supply to 80 percent of its inhabitants within a week of the typhoon hitting.

An assessment published today by Oxfam warns that major gaps remain in the continuing response, with millions of people—especially in rural and hard to reach areas—having received little official aid. Many have relied on local charities, churches and their fellow citizens at home and abroad. The relief effort must expand faster to provide enough assistance to everyone who needs it, said Oxfam.

In addition, substantial longer term support will be needed to prevent affected areas, many of which were already among the poorest parts of the Philippines, sliding further into poverty, and exposing communities to greater risks from the next weather event in a disaster prone country.

Today, roughly 3 million people are relying on some form of food assistance and 4 million people are homeless and need shelter. An Oxfam assessment in northwest Leyte found some communities had nothing to eat except the food aid they received and less than 10 percent had proper emergency shelter. There are also risks to the safety of vulnerable groups such as woman and children.

Between 1987-2007, major natural disasters became four times as common worldwide. Climate change is a key reason, said Oxfam America President Raymond Offenheiser. In a recent opinion article published by MSNBC.com Offenheiser points out that since 1993, more than 530,000 people have died as a direct result of 15,000 extreme weather events. Losses amounted to more than $2.5 trillion.

“During the coming decade, catastrophes like typhoon Haiyan will cause billions of dollars in damage in poor countries, kill many thousands of people, and require at least $1 trillion in public humanitarian aid. The need for international agreements to cut the carbon emissions that fuel global warming is far beyond urgent,” said Offenheiser.

Voltaire Alferez, National Coordinator of one of Oxfam’s partners in the Philippines, Aksyon Klima Pilipinas, said: “Typhoon Haiyan is the shape of things to come. With climate change increasing the severity of typhoons in the region and sea levels projected to rise, the effects of deadly storm surge are compounded. The Philippines will need sustained support and programs to prepare for more storms like this. Ultimately, it needs action on reducing the threat of climate change.”

The Philippines is hit by approximately 20 typhoons a year and has been relatively successful at preparing for and reducing the risk of disasters. The central government evacuated 800,000 people in the wake of the storm, which undoubtedly saved many lives. However, it needs to redouble its efforts to make sure those authorities and organizations at the frontline of disaster response are best equipped to safeguard their people and livelihoods.

/Ends

"My direct contact with President Nelson Mandela was in the context of helping Burundian women to participate in the Arusha peace process. Madiba met Burundi women peace activists and signalled to the negotiators the importance of an inclusive process for a just, peaceful and prosperous future. We honour President Mandela not only for his vision, courage and sacrifices for the liberation of South Africa but for promoting forgiveness and reconciliation following the end of apartheid. Madiba spoke for all oppressed people in the world. He was the most consistent and powerful voice for social justice in the 20th century. My deepest condolences go to H.E Graca Machel, President Mandela's entire family and all the people of South Africa.”

Lord Joel Joffe CBE, ex-Chair of Oxfam GB and the lawyer who defended Mandela at the Rivonia Trial:

Lord Joel Joffe CBE was the young lawyer who defended Nelson Mandela at the famous 1963-4 Rivonia trial. Exiled to Britain in 1965, he co-founded Allied Dunbar Assurance.  Joffe was involved with Oxfam for 17 years from 1981 both as a Trustee and Chair.  Oxfam championed the anti-apartheid movement, including withdrawing its business from Barclays who were heavily associated with South Africa. Lord Joffe says:
“Nelson Mandela was an extraordinary human being and I was honoured to have had the privilege of representing him as one of his lawyers in the Rivonia Trial.  When I first met him at Pretoria gaol, he came into the interview room to meet the team of lawyers dressed in prisoner’s clothes of sandals and short trousers, but typically took command of the meeting.  He was a natural leader with great charisma who listened carefully to his colleagues before taking decisions. During my time at Oxfam, we also supported the anti-apartheid movement by withdrawing our business from Barclays which was heavily associated with South Africa.  Oxfam has a long history in South Africa, working with people to overcome poverty and injustice.  I was delighted that Oxfam was one of just two charities invited by the ANC to attend Mandela’s inauguration in recognition of its contribution to the cause of justice and equality. In addition to his great achievements, I will always personally remember Nelson Mandela for his wonderful sense of humour.  He had an easy smile and infectious laugh.  He was a very warm person who treated everyone the same, as simply another human being.”

Allan Moolman, Country Director, Oxfam in South Africa:

“Madiba has always represented the idea of a new and different South Africa. He was and is a symbol of our aspiration to be free, our freedom and our hope for a better South Africa and has carried the torch of justice, equality and peace for almost a century. South Africa and the world are poorer for his passing. As our nation mourns we must keep in mind what it is that we can offer Mandela as a legacy. We can offer him a country in which his people continue to work together to realise our shared dream of a country in which we are all equals, free of poverty and need.   He was a visionary in a time when the struggle was at its most oppressed. It is this vision of hope that led us into a peaceful democracy and enshrined equity into our constitution. Madiba’s acts of immense sacrifice have inspired activists and organisations like Oxfam to continue to fight, against all odds, for equality and justice in a very unequal world. Hamba Kahle Tata uqhatso ulufezile (Go well, Father, you have done all )”

In a new study released today, Oxfam warned that of products important for Colombia’s small-scale producers, especially whey, rice, white corn, milk powder and pork, were at greatest risk of being undercut by an increase in US imports and a fall in import prices.

The study also highlighted that overall US imports into Colombia have grown at a much faster rate than Colombian exports in the other direction. This was particularly the case for agricultural commodities and processed foods.

“The Colombian government touted the benefits of increased access to the US market but the reality has not been so rosy,” said Adriana Rodríguez, Oxfam’s acting country director in Colombia. “Small-scale Colombian farmers are being forced to compete on an unequal footing with subsidized US products which is likely to lead to less income and falling local production.”

Colombia was motivated to sign the deal with the United States to consolidate the trade preferences it had enjoyed since 1991 as part of US illicit crop eradication policies. In exchange, Colombia accepted major concessions that may dramatically impact the livelihoods of small-scale farmers and affect the sustainability of development policies, according to Oxfam.

“Trade agreements between equals can benefit both parties by creating opportunities to access new markets,” said Stephanie Burgos, senior policy advisor with Oxfam. “But Colombia and the US are very unequal partners. This has led to an unfair trade agreement that delivers for large-scale subsidized US agricultural interests while hurting Colombia’s agricultural sector, in particular small-scale farmers.”

Rice is one of the most important staples in the Colombian family diet and vital to the country’s small-farm economy. According to Oxfam, the value of total rice imports increased almost eightfold in the first nine months of the trade agreement, while the import price fell by almost 85 percent, with the United States acquiring an 80 percent market share in Colombia.

Similarly, the agreement has allowed US dairy products to enter Colombia with prices more favorable than those of its competitors, significantly increasing US market share in Colombia for milk products, especially milk powder, from 1 percent in total imports to over 27 percent.

In the case of white corn, Colombian imports have increased by more than 60 percent, with the US displacing Brazil and Argentina. The US is now Colombia’s only external supplier.

Meanwhile, the value of pork imports from the United States has grown 37 percent since the implementation of the FTA.

“The consequences of this unequal trade agreement have been quick to materialize,” said Rodríguez. “We now urge the Colombian government to quickly adopt a monitoring system that enables timely action to mitigate the adverse effects of the trade agreement on small-scale farmers.”

//ENDS

Notes to editors:

1. Oxfam’s petition targeting PepsiCo and Associated British Foods is available at: www.behindthebrands.org/actnow

2. Oxfam’s investigation into land grabs in sugar supply chains is available at: http://www.oxfamamerica.org/press/publications/nothing-sweet-about-it

3. Oxfam’s Behind the Brands ranking of food and beverage companies is available at www.behindthebrands.org

Full text of the shareholder resolution:

SHAREHOLDER PROPOSAL REGARDING REPORT ON LAND RIGHTS

WHEREAS:

Since 2000, over 885 large-scale land acquisitions covering approximately 79 million acres globally have been recorded. Approximately a third of the deals involve investment in cash crops such as sugar cane, palm oil, and soy. Many of these large-scale land acquisitions involve evicting traditional land holders, through coercion or fraud ("land grabs").

Land grabbing primarily affects small-scale farming communities in developing countries and has been linked to loss of livelihoods, hunger, and violence.  PepsiCo’s sources of sugar include suppliers that have been linked to land grabs, which poses risk to the company and shareholder value; PepsiCo must urgently recognize this problem and take steps to ensure that land rights violations are not part of its supply chain.

By preparing an annual report regarding land rights and applying the results as part of its supply chain management, PepsiCo would strengthen its ability to assess its own and its suppliers’ performance on this important issue and hold its suppliers accountable; enable shareholders to better understand and assess potential reputational and operational risks; and, consistent with the principle that “what gets measured gets managed,” prompt more responsible business practices by suppliers.

There is a clear and growing consumer interest in understanding the impacts made by the supply chains of the brands they purchase. Improved transparency by PepsiCo regarding policies and practices that secure future commodity supplies and reduce social and environmental risks are a part of the process of building a sustainable business model for the company and its shareholders.

As one of the world’s largest food and beverage companies, PepsiCo through its global supply chains is positioned to be a leader in promoting respect and support of land rights, fair resolution of land conflicts, and sharing of investment benefits; PepsiCo also has a unique opportunity to encourage government and the wider food industry to do the same. Indeed, PepsiCo’s membership in Bonsucro serves as an acknowledgement of land rights violations as a sustainability issue resulting from sugar production.

RESOLVED:

Shareholders request that the Board of Directors cause PepsiCo to publish by November 1, 2014, and on an annual basis thereafter, a report focused on the issue of land rights along the company’s supply chains. Among other important disclosures, the report should (i) disclose from whom and where PepsiCo sources its sugar cane, palm oil, and soy, and whether PepsiCo and its suppliers have adopted a zero tolerance policy on land rights violations and (ii) provide an objective assessment of how PepsiCo’s supply purchases impact rural communities’ land rights. The report should be prepared at reasonable cost, omitting proprietary information, and using a phased, tiered, or other approach that PepsiCo deems reasonable and practical.

SUPPORTING STATEMENT:

Annual reporting would strengthen PepsiCo’s ability to assess its own and its suppliers’ performance on the issue of land rights, to hold its suppliers accountable, and enhance shareholder value by enabling shareholders to better understand and assess potential reputational and operational risks.

LIST OF CO-FILERS:

AFL-CIO

Benedictine Sisters of Virginia

Benedictine Women of Madison

Catholic Health East

Congregation of Benedictine Sisters

Fresh Pond Capital

Investor Voice

Maryknoll Sisters

Mercy Investment Services

Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate

Socially Responsible Investment Coalition

Trillium Asset Management

Zevin Asset Management

Rice crops harvests in the five regions most affected by the disaster have been decimated, according to Oxfam and the UN’s Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO). Missing the next rice planting season in December would leave millions of Filipinos without their staple food for daily consumption as well as a huge loss of income and increased debt for farmers.

“Time is fast running out to get the assistance to poor farmers they so urgently need,” said Justin Morgan, Oxfam’s country director in the Philippines. “They must meet the deadline for the planting season in December if they are to start to recover from the typhoon.

“Failing to immediately provide seeds, fertilizer and tools will put millions of people at risk of severe hunger in the coming months, compounding the impact of the devastation caused by Typhoon Haiyan.”

Typhoon Haiyan hit the country just as farmers were harvesting the main season paddy crop representing over 50 percent of the annual production.

Oxfam is calling on international donors to urgently help fill the funding gap for the agricultural part of the UN Haiyan Action Plan which is currently severely underfunded at less than 9 percent (OCHA 19th November).

“The US government must move quickly to commit disaster assistance funds to help Filipino farmers recover their agricultural livelihoods in the hardest hit areas,” said Gawain Kripke, Oxfam America’s director of policy.

“The US Agency for International Development should prioritize assistance to help Filipino producers rebuild their livelihoods, local economies and safeguard against widespread food insecurity. To address current need, the US should immediately exempt the Philippine emergency response from the layers of complex rules and regulations governing US food aid that is causing significant delays in getting life-saving stocks of US rice to Filipinos in desperate need,” added Kripke.

In the short term, the Philippines National Food Authority (NFA) must also deliver rice from local harvests in areas of the country unaffected by the disaster to those in need. NFA also must ensure that farmers are receiving support to enable them to diversify the types of crops they can grow.

Philippines National Rice Farmers council spokesperson Jaime Tadeo said: “Farmers need help to recover from the devastation of their farms and livelihoods including locally adapted seeds, vegetables and other crops to diversify their sources of income.”

Justin Morgan added: “Aid Agencies on the ground are providing as much support to farmers at this crucial time as possible.  Oxfam teams are working in Samar and Leyte, two key rice producing areas, supporting farmers in clearing and restoring farm production areas.”

“It is, however, essential for international donors to give more money for agriculture support right now so that farmers can plant more rice, diversify their crops and repair key infrastructure and therefore prevent an even greater food emergency down the line.”

/ENDS

Notes to Editors:

** Typhoon Haiyan has wiped out one third of the Philippines’ rice growing areas according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation. FAO has downgraded its forecast for the 2013 rice production in the country from 18.9 million tons to 18 million tons, according to FAO’s Global Information and Early Warning System (GIEWS) on 19 November.

** The rice production shortfall of 900,000 tons will be felt disproportionally in the five most affected regions.  The Eastern Visayas region, the worst affected region has a total rice growing area of 157,632 hectares accounting for 22% of its total agriculture area. In 2012, the region had a total rice production output of 994,972 metric tons supplying the region’s basic staple needs.

** Oxfam has worked with farmers and fisher folk in different parts of the Philippines for many years especially by supporting initiatives aimed at improving terms and conditions for poor farming communities.

• Oxfam has spokespeople available in the Philippines, Boston and Washington DC.
• To learn more about Oxfam America’s response in the Philippines visit: www.oxfamamerica.org
• To make a donation to Oxfam America’s Typhoon Haiyan fund visit: www.oxfamamerica.org/haiyan
• Watch Scarlett Johansson’s PSA for Oxfam America’s work in the Philippines (15 second) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYdXf2DyKz0&feature=youtu.be
• Watch Scarlett Johansson’s PSA for Oxfam America’s work in the Philippines (30 second): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPv4tqMOGXk

About Oxfam America:

Oxfam America is a global organization working to right the wrongs of poverty, hunger, and injustice. As one of 17 members of the international Oxfam confederation, we work with people in more than 90 countries to create lasting solutions. For more information on Oxfam’s response in the Philippines, or to donate, please visit: www.oxfamamerica.org.

According to the new research, commissioned by Oxfam and conducted by the Beirut Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC) last month, families are spiraling deeper and deeper into debt, living in cramped and overcrowded accommodation, with few job prospects.

The lucky ones, less than 20 percent of families, are scraping by doing temporary menial jobs. But with every working person supporting more than five other people in addition to themselves, every cent they earn is stretched to the limit.

The Lebanese people have shown incredible generosity in continuing to offer a safe refuge for people fleeing Syria, but with refugees now accounting for around 25 percent of the population, the pressures on the Lebanese job market in particular are showing.

Hadir Jasem, aged 21, who fled with her family to Lebanon two years ago, is desperate to get back to her home in Syria and start university, but she is now the sole breadwinner for her family of 13, earning $200 a month as a teacher’s assistant.

She said: “Things here are much, much more expensive. Going back to university requires money, if I do that, then there wouldn't be enough money for us to survive.”

The survey shows people are spending more than twice what they’re earning - monthly incomes for refugee families is around $250 but average expenditure is around $520 including monthly costs such as rent ($225) and food (up to $275). The refugees said the cost of putting a roof over their heads was exorbitantly high. More than 20 percent are living in poor conditions such as tents, shacks, shops and storage basements because they can’t afford the rent for a flat.

To make ends meet, many said they had spent whatever money they left Syria with (on average $370) and were borrowing money from friends and families – some from still inside Syria, where the cost of living is far lower. A fifth of respondents said they had sold family jewelry to help make ends meet and a small number of families said kind-hearted Lebanese shopkeepers and landlords were allowing them to run up credit, even though it’s unclear when they will ever recoup the money.

Nigel Timmins, who heads up Oxfam’s Syria response from Beirut, said: “Refugees from Syria face a daily battle to survive in a country where jobs and affordable accommodation are scarce. The perpetual hunt for work is crushing people’s hope.

“Competition is tough for any job – between desperate refugees and poor Lebanese workers who feel they are being squeezed out of the workforce. Seasonal jobs in agriculture, for example, are drying up as winter approaches making the situation even worse.”

Some refugees said they were getting support from UN agencies or organizations such as Oxfam. But unless there is a massive injection of funds, Syrian refugees face the prospect of a life of grinding poverty ahead, surviving on borrowed cash and credit alone. The UN’s humanitarian appeals for the Syria Crisis are currently 61 percent funded.

One of the most tragic aspects of the refugees’ predicament in Lebanon is the plight of the children’s future. The survey found that only 25 percent of children are enrolled in schools pointing to a generation of Syrian children missing out on a much-needed education.

Parents fear they are letting their families down as their children are losing out on an education – even though public Lebanese schools are free, many refugee families are unable to pay additional school expenses, particularly the transport costs if schools aren’t nearby.

Timmins said: “As the crisis drags on, parents worry this is just the start of the nightmare – and wonder when their lives and the lives of their children will ever get back on track.

The plight of refugees went beyond issues of money, accommodation or schooling. They spoke of the anguish and agony related to loss of dignity, loss of friends, seclusion or anger by some members of the family, lack of self-esteem, poor living conditions and poor health.

“At the moment, there is no end in sight for the vast majority of refugees. They have little prospect of a regular income and many live with the fear that not only will they find no work tomorrow or next week – but it could be a long time before they will be able to provide for their families again. Only a lasting political solution to the crisis in Syria is what will allow them to leave this life in limbo behind,” said Timmins.

Oxfam and other agencies are working closely with the Lebanese Government to assess potential livelihoods opportunities for refugees and vulnerable Lebanese. These could include cash-for-work programs, savings schemes, vocational training and job placement, as well as developing training opportunities and building community-based organizations.

/ENDS

Notes to Editors

1.         Nigel Timmins, Head of Oxfam’s Syria response, is available for interviews. For any requests, please contact: Matt Herrick, Oxfam America, 617-821-7653, mherrick@oxfamamerica.org; Janna Hamilton, +961-760-27223, janna.hamilton@oxfamnovib.nl

2.         Broadcast media: link to VNR, shot list and script (Duration 5:10, Format HD PAL, split track version will also be available): http://wordsandpictures.oxfam.org.uk/?c=14949&k=4b0f32bb14

3.         To download the report, visit http://www.oxfamamerica.org/publications/survey-on-the-livelihoods-of-syrian-refugees-in-lebanon-bric-oxfam

4.         Oxfam commissioned the Beirut Research and Innovation Center (BRIC) to conduct interviews and develop a questionnaire to better assess Syrian refugee needs and prepare for the relief work essential for their survival during their presence in neighboring countries.  Data was collected from more than 320 respondents, including 260 head of households representing 1591 family members, fifty Focus Group members, and numerous municipal officials and NGO staff

5.         77 percent of the households report that they carry debt. The average savings brought into Lebanon by the refugees surveyed was $371 US per household

6.         Respondents ranked their greatest fears as follows: 61 percent responded that poverty is their greatest fear, remaining a refugee ranked second (55 percent), and a lack of dignified work (29.6 percent) ranked third

7.         As of mid-November 2013, more than 815,000 refugees from Syria have been registered or awaiting registration in Lebanon; many more are believed to have crossed the border but are not yet registered.

About Oxfam America:

Oxfam America is a global organization working to right the wrongs of poverty, hunger, and injustice. As one of 17 members of the international Oxfam confederation, we work with people in more than 90 countries to create lasting solutions. For more information on Oxfam’s response in the Philippines, or to donate, please visit: www.oxfamamerica.org.

“As the recovery continues in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan, we’re working closely with partners to deliver water, basic sanitation, and plastic sheeting for emergency shelter while also planning to support households as they rebuild and assist in getting markets up and running again,” said Oxfam Philippines country director Justin Morgan.

The scale of the devastation is vast: 13 million people have been affected by the storm, 4 million are displaced and thousands are dead and missing. Homes, livelihoods and infrastructure have been destroyed across a huge area. The Philippines, a nation composed of more than 7,000 islands, was hit hard by multiple disasters this year before Haiyan, one of the most powerful storms to hit land in recorded history, wreaked its havoc.

“Many families hit hard by Typhoon Haiyan depend on farming and fishing to survive, industries that have been completely decimated by the storm,” said Morgan.  “A quick relief and reconstruction strategy that prioritizes low-income groups and reduces poverty and socio-economic inequalities will also ensure that the Philippines will be better prepared for disasters in future.”

Oxfam’s goal in the first phase of the emergency is to ensure that 20,000 families – about 100,000 people – have access to food, safe water, sanitation facilities, and hygiene materials. There are currently four Oxfam teams working in the affected areas of northern Cebu, Leyte and Eastern Samar. In Cebu, Oxfam has carried out a distribution of blankets, water-purification kits, and hygiene materials like soap, toothbrushes, and underwear.  In the hard-hit city of Tacloban in Leyte province, Oxfam and our local partners are working with local water authorities to fix damaged pipes and provide sanitation.

While efforts by aid organizations and governments alike reach greater numbers of survivors in the Philippines, there are changes stateside that could make aid delivery more efficient, and ultimately save more lives.

“The US government is mobilizing millions of dollars in aid to help save lives in the Philippines, including food aid,” said Michael Delaney, director of humanitarian response for Oxfam America. “But shockingly, the first shipment of US rice won’t arrive until December 6, and if subsequent shipments arrive during the next harvest they could displace farmers in the region who were unaffected by the storm. That’s because outdated regulations require most US food aid to be shipped from the United States—more than 11,000 nautical miles away from the Philippines— even though there is ample food available much closer, often at lower cost.”

“While debating the US farm bill in the weeks ahead, Congress must remove the layers of complexity in US food aid that put lives at risk and waste taxpayer dollars,” said Delaney.

• Oxfam has spokespeople available in the Philippines, Boston and Washington DC.
• To learn more about Oxfam America’s response in the Philippines visit: www.oxfamamerica.org
• To make a donation to Oxfam America’s Typhoon Haiyan fund visit: www.oxfamamerica.org/haiyan
• Watch Scarlett Johansson’s PSA for Oxfam America’s work in the Philippines (15 second) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYdXf2DyKz0&feature=youtu.be
• Watch Scarlett Johansson’s PSA for Oxfam America’s work in the Philippines (30 second): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPv4tqMOGXk

About Oxfam America:

Oxfam America is a global organization working to right the wrongs of poverty, hunger, and injustice. As one of 17 members of the international Oxfam confederation, we work with people in more than 90 countries to create lasting solutions. For more information on Oxfam’s response in the Philippines, or to donate, please visit: www.oxfamamerica.org.

Contact for interviews and for high resolution video PSAs:

Helen DaSilva

hdasilva@oxfamamerica.org

617-331-2984

Currently, US counterterrorism laws prohibit any transactions with or support to listed terrorist groups, including payment of routine licensing fees or tolls to groups in control of territory. This means aid organization, such as Oxfam, can face civil and criminal penalties for offering life-saving assistance in areas controlled by these groups. The bill, which is supported by a broad number of organizations, creates a limited authorization to deliver humanitarian assistance in these areas, while preventing listed terrorist groups from exploiting international aid.

“Representatives Smith, McGovern, and Fortenberry are proposing a balanced, measured and commonsense solution that will help save lives,” said Paul O’Brien, Vice President of Policy and Campaigns at Oxfam America. “It rightly recognizes that humanitarian organizations have a solemn duty to prevent against abuse by armed groups, and it affirms, in the strongest possible terms, that the responsible delivery of aid cannot be a crime.

"As humanitarians, we are increasingly asked to intervene in areas controlled by hostile armed groups and the challenges we face in the field are more sophisticated than the laws that govern our operations,” said O’Brien. “This bill will help us save lives, while pushing us to be ever more diligent and creative in our delivery of aid in high-risk areas.”        

Nearly 260,000 people died during the 2011-12 famine in Somalia, half of them children under the age of five. Consecutive underperforming rainy seasons, violent conflict, prohibitions on free movement, and restrictions on aid agencies by armed groups in Somalia all contributed to create the most deadly famine in Somalia in decades. US counterterror laws – and the delay in the authorization ultimately granted by the Treasury Department to offer assistance –exacerbated what was already a horrific crisis. Millions of dollars of humanitarian aid was delayed or blocked. And since the authorization only covered US government grantees, Oxfam America, which does not accept US government funds, was unable to contribute funds to assist the hardest-hit areas of Somalia.

“We must learn the lessons from the last famine in Somalia and urgently pass this bill into law,” O’Brien said. “President Reagan once said that a hungry child knows no politics. Nearly thirty years later, it is outrageous that people could still be left to perish because of where they live or who rules over them." 

“In a country that is already experiencing a clean water crisis like El Salvador, there are even more risks associated with mining,” said Ivan Morales, El Salvador Country Director for Oxfam. “It’s important that El Salvador protects the drinking water and health of its people from the environmental impacts of mining. The support from members of Congress for the Salvadoran government is crucial.”

“El Salvador has taken important steps in recent years to recover from its history of political violence and establish democracy and the rule of law,” the Congressional letter reads. “We salute the efforts the Salvadoran Assembly has made in this regard. As friends of El Salvador, we wish to see the country grow and prosper with full respect for human rights and the environment.”

El Salvador is the smallest and most densely populated country in Latin America. According to El Salvador’s Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources, 90 percent of surface water is contaminated due to agricultural runoff and deficient sewage processes. Furthermore, according to the World Bank, a fifth of the population living in rural communities does not have access to an improved water resource.  These current conditions limit accessibility to fresh water. The development of large-scale metallic mining would further contribute to the deficiency of fresh water due to its release of acid mine drainage, which has serious effects on the environment.

The country is also being sued in an international trade tribunal by Canadian mining company Pacific Rim for not granting a mining permit since a presidential suspension on mining licenses was adopted in 2009. Currently, El Salvador is considering a bill that would make it the first country to permanently ban metallic mining.

“Large scale mining can cause environmental contamination and contribute to the violation of the rights of local communities to protect their personal security and livelihoods,” continued the letter.  “In recent years, many countries of Latin America have experienced violence and conflict related to mining.”

The Congressional letter, sent to Salvadoran Congressman Francisco Zablah, president of the Commission for the Environment and Climate Change last Thursday, said that it is critical for the Salvadoran Assembly to play a “strong and active role” in oversight of the industry and protecting the voices of potentially affected local communities. “It is essential to ensure a vigorous public debate about the costs and benefits of mining to El Salvador,” the letter stated.

Oxfam America is currently working with local and national partners in El Salvador and other international allies to support the right of Salvadoran communities to determine whether they allow metallic mining in their country.

The letter was signed by Representatives Raul Grijalva, William Clay, John Conyers Jr., Sam Farr, Alcee Hastings, James McGovern, Jim Moran, Mark Pocan, Jan Schakowsky, and Maxine Waters.