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Conflicts and disasters

Everyone has the right to live free from fear and danger.

So when conflicts or natural disasters, such as the earthquake in Haiti in 2010 strike, we get there fast.

Saving lives

From 2005-2010, we supported 20 million people in emergencies, saving lives, preventing diseases and stopping people become destitute.

Safe and sound

In 2011/12, worldwide, we provided emergency shelter for 180,000 people who had lost everything in an emergency.

The issue

More than 43 million people have had to abandon their homes because of war, crime, political unrest, and natural disasters (UNHCR, 2011). Many lose everything they own.

Poor countries are four times as likely as rich ones to experience major conflicts. And people living in poverty are the most vulnerable to all kinds of disasters. 

Poor communities often have to settle and build on land prone to flooding, storms and landslides. So natural events, like heavy rain, can become a full-blown crisis - especially when people lack the basics they need to cope in the aftermath.

And unless we take action now, climate change will lead to even more disasters triggered by events like droughts and flooding. Many communities are already seeing big changes, and are working hard to adapt.

What we're doing


Responding to emergencies

We’re world leading experts in public health in emergencies. And we have a long record of saving lives in a crisis.


We also provide hygiene kits, seeds and tools, vaccinations and fodder for livestock, and food. And we train health promoters, lobby people in power to protect those affected by conflicts, and give people cash for work.


Because we work in 92 countries, we’re usually right there when an emergency happens – ready to respond right away. Like the drought in East Africa in 2011, or the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti in January 2010. We were there before the UN declared a crisis, providing clean water, latrines and hygiene kits.

 

Campaigning for action


Oxfam lobbies governments and bodies like the UN, influencing international responses to conflicts and disasters – not only by raising funds for relief work and pressing for swifter aid, but also to end the injustices that lie at the root of so many conflicts and disasters.

We also campaign to curb the supply of arms that fuel violence. Along with allies such as Amnesty International and IANSA, we call for strict controls on the global trade in arms, through the Control Arms campaign.

Through this campaign we’ve helped persuade the majority of the world’s governments to develop an Arms Trade Treaty. Now we're working to make sure the Treaty is agreed and effective.



Help us be ready


Help us be there right away:

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Emergencies

When an emergency hits, Oxfam is there.

Policy & Practice

More about conflicts and disastersMore about conflicts and disasters

on our Policy & Practice website

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Other issues we work on