Latest news with #Oxfam
Scoop
an hour ago
- General
- Scoop
Oxfam Delivers Lifesaving Aid To Women And Girls In Gaza Amid Worsening Humanitarian Crisis
Press Release – Oxfam Aotearoa Despite the ongoing aid obstruction, constant bombardment and movement restrictions, Oxfam, together with local partners Juzoor and Aisha, distributed 5,000 dignity kits in Northern Gaza and additional 2,100 in Southern Lebanon. As the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza deepens, Oxfam and its partners have managed to deliver essential aid, including menstrual hygiene products. With the siege blocking all but a trickle of food and extremely limited medical supplies in recent days, Oxfam has been able to continue limited distribution from their now depleted stocks in Gaza, delivering the products to women and girls affected by the ongoing crisis. Despite the ongoing aid obstruction, constant bombardment and movement restrictions, Oxfam, together with local partners Juzoor and Aisha, distributed 5,000 dignity kits in Northern Gaza and additional 2,100 in Southern Lebanon. This effort is part of a wider humanitarian response that includes emergency food aid, clean water, and sanitation support for communities suffering from nearly two years of relentless violence and siege. The dignity kits, developed in partnership with Auckland-based non-profit Reemi, contain four sets of reusable period underwear, a specially designed washing and drying bag, and other personal care items. These products offer a sustainable and long-term solution for women and girls who have had no access to menstrual supplies and very limited water. Reemi's wash bags enable efficient and discrete cleaning using only a small amount of water, making them a practical choice in water-scarce and culturally sensitive settings. Early post-distribution feedback in Gaza has shown promising results, with women reporting that the kits are both manageable and a relief after prolonged deprivation and lack of water access. Women who had told Oxfam that they were resorting to using tent scraps as period pads in response to a lack of hygiene products, can now use their Reemi pants across their whole cycle. Fidaa Alaraj, Oxfam's Gender Advisor in Gaza, said: 'This delivery is a lifeline for women and girls who've had no access to basic menstrual care. Reusable products not only restore dignity, but are also a sustainable, practical response to ongoing challenges like water scarcity and waste. Menstrual health must be seen as an essential component of humanitarian response.' The distribution represents a breakthrough for menstrual health in what continues to be a heavily restricted aid operation. Since the escalation of hostilities more than 19 months ago, essential supplies including food, fuel, and medical aid have been severely limited. Emily Au-Young, founder of Reemi, emphasised the importance of addressing menstrual health in emergencies: 'Periods don't stop in a crisis. Access to menstrual health is a basic right, not a luxury. I'm grateful to Oxfam, who continue to innovate in the hygiene space even during acute crises, as well as the 900 Kiwis who supported this campaign. Our partnership has provided a long-lasting solution for women and girls in some of the world's most challenging environments – places where waste systems are broken and access to hygiene is limited.' Oxfam Aotearoa Executive Director, Jason Myers, said: 'While the delivery of these dignity kits was a relief to many women, the scale of need remains overwhelming. Some days, supplies make it across the border with essential items like food and water, and other days, very little humanitarian aid, if any, is allowed in. Oxfam reiterates our call for an immediate ceasefire and unhindered ability to deliver humanitarian relief to address this ongoing crisis.' Notes: – Oxfam's rapid gender analysis was conducted from 7-13 May 2024 in North Gaza, Khan Younis, Rafah, and Middle Area. – Reemi is a social enterprise designing ethical, low-resource reusable period underwear for use in humanitarian and development contexts. – The washing bags only require 500ml of water to wash the underwear to a hygienic standard, as proven by lab tests. This is far less water usage than hand washing. – The menstrual hygiene products distributed in Gaza were funded by Elrha via the FCDO and 900 New Zealanders who enabled an additional distribution of 2,100 kits.
Scoop
3 hours ago
- General
- Scoop
Oxfam Delivers Lifesaving Aid To Women And Girls In Gaza Amid Worsening Humanitarian Crisis
As the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza deepens, Oxfam and its partners have managed to deliver essential aid, including menstrual hygiene products. With the siege blocking all but a trickle of food and extremely limited medical supplies in recent days, Oxfam has been able to continue limited distribution from their now depleted stocks in Gaza, delivering the products to women and girls affected by the ongoing crisis. Despite the ongoing aid obstruction, constant bombardment and movement restrictions, Oxfam, together with local partners Juzoor and Aisha, distributed 5,000 dignity kits in Northern Gaza and additional 2,100 in Southern Lebanon. This effort is part of a wider humanitarian response that includes emergency food aid, clean water, and sanitation support for communities suffering from nearly two years of relentless violence and siege. The dignity kits, developed in partnership with Auckland-based non-profit Reemi, contain four sets of reusable period underwear, a specially designed washing and drying bag, and other personal care items. These products offer a sustainable and long-term solution for women and girls who have had no access to menstrual supplies and very limited water. Reemi's wash bags enable efficient and discrete cleaning using only a small amount of water, making them a practical choice in water-scarce and culturally sensitive settings. Early post-distribution feedback in Gaza has shown promising results, with women reporting that the kits are both manageable and a relief after prolonged deprivation and lack of water access. Women who had told Oxfam that they were resorting to using tent scraps as period pads in response to a lack of hygiene products, can now use their Reemi pants across their whole cycle. Fidaa Alaraj, Oxfam's Gender Advisor in Gaza, said: "This delivery is a lifeline for women and girls who've had no access to basic menstrual care. Reusable products not only restore dignity, but are also a sustainable, practical response to ongoing challenges like water scarcity and waste. Menstrual health must be seen as an essential component of humanitarian response." The distribution represents a breakthrough for menstrual health in what continues to be a heavily restricted aid operation. Since the escalation of hostilities more than 19 months ago, essential supplies including food, fuel, and medical aid have been severely limited. Emily Au-Young, founder of Reemi, emphasised the importance of addressing menstrual health in emergencies: "Periods don't stop in a crisis. Access to menstrual health is a basic right, not a luxury. I'm grateful to Oxfam, who continue to innovate in the hygiene space even during acute crises, as well as the 900 Kiwis who supported this campaign. Our partnership has provided a long-lasting solution for women and girls in some of the world's most challenging environments - places where waste systems are broken and access to hygiene is limited." Oxfam Aotearoa Executive Director, Jason Myers, said: "While the delivery of these dignity kits was a relief to many women, the scale of need remains overwhelming. Some days, supplies make it across the border with essential items like food and water, and other days, very little humanitarian aid, if any, is allowed in. Oxfam reiterates our call for an immediate ceasefire and unhindered ability to deliver humanitarian relief to address this ongoing crisis." Notes: - Oxfam's rapid gender analysis was conducted from 7-13 May 2024 in North Gaza, Khan Younis, Rafah, and Middle Area. - Reemi is a social enterprise designing ethical, low-resource reusable period underwear for use in humanitarian and development contexts. - The washing bags only require 500ml of water to wash the underwear to a hygienic standard, as proven by lab tests. This is far less water usage than hand washing. - The menstrual hygiene products distributed in Gaza were funded by Elrha via the FCDO and 900 New Zealanders who enabled an additional distribution of 2,100 kits.
Days of Palestine
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Days of Palestine
Oxfam: Israel's Campaign Aims to ‘Erase Gaza' Through Mass Displacement
DaysofPal- Oxfam International has accused Israel of waging a calculated campaign to 'erase Gaza itself' by forcibly displacing Palestinians and fragmenting the territory, rather than solely targeting Hamas. The global aid organization called on world powers to take concrete action to end Israel's ongoing siege of Gaza. In a statement released by the UK-based charity, Oxfam condemned Israel's military offensive and its sweeping evacuation orders, which have pushed civilians into five overcrowded zones that now constitute less than 20 percent of Gaza's land. Rather than a military strategy focused on combatants, Oxfam argued that Israel is executing 'a deliberate campaign to dismantle and depopulate Gaza,' calling the forced displacement a war crime under international law. 'For over 600 days, Israel has been saying it's targeting Hamas, but it is civilians who have been corralled, bombed and killed en masse every day,' said Bushra Khalidi, Oxfam's policy lead in the occupied Palestinian territory. Khalidi described the mass displacement orders as part of 'a clear and calculated pattern: using the threat of violence to herd civilians into ever-shrinking zones of confinement.' The group said the areas where Palestinians are being driven are dusty, overcrowded encampments lacking protection and frequently struck by Israeli attacks. Meanwhile, Israel has expanded its military footprint through five so-called 'security corridors' that now divide Gaza into isolated sections. 'This isn't counterterrorism, as Israel alleges – it's the systematic clearing of Gaza through militarized force into enclaves of internment,' Oxfam stated. The organization urged international actors to go beyond statements of concern and apply real pressure on Israel to lift the blockade and end the displacement of Gaza's civilian population. Shortlink for this post:
Free Malaysia Today
a day ago
- General
- Free Malaysia Today
Activists turn Paris fountain red to denounce Gaza ‘bloodbath'
While some activists poured dye into the Fontaine des Innocents, others held up placards saying 'Cease fire' and 'Gaza: stop the bloodbath'. (AFP pic) PARIS : French activists dyed a Paris fountain red on Wednesday to symbolise what they called the 'bloodbath' of Palestinians in Gaza. Activists from Oxfam and Amnesty International poured dye into the Fontaine des Innocents in the heart of the French capital, while others held placards saying 'Cease fire' and 'Gaza: stop the bloodbath'. 'This operation aims to denounce France's slow response to an absolute humanitarian emergency facing the people of Gaza today,' the activists, which included the French branch of Greenpeace, said in a joint statement. 'France cannot limit itself to mere verbal condemnations,' said former minister Cecile Duflot, executive director of Oxfam France. Clemence Lagouardat, who helped coordinate Oxfam's humanitarian response in Gaza, denounced the Israeli blockade of the besieged territory. 'The people in Gaza need everything, it's a matter of survival,' she told AFP. The Oct 7, 2023 attack by Palestinian militant group Hamas on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official data. Militants also abducted 251 people, of whom 57 are still being held in Gaza, including 34 declared dead by the Israeli army. The Israeli offensive launched in retaliation has killed at least 53,977 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to data from the Hamas-run health ministry, which is considered reliable by the UN. Israel has now stepped up a renewed campaign to destroy Hamas, drawing international condemnation as aid trickles in following a blockade since early March that has sparked severe food and medical shortages. 'There is a genocide going on and political inaction is becoming a kind of complicity in this genocide,' said Jean-Francois Julliard, head of Greenpeace France. 'We call on (President) Emmanuel Macron to act with courage, clarity and determination to put an end to this bloodshed.' The activists urged states 'with influence over Israel' to press for an immediate and lasting ceasefire, an arms embargo on Israel, the revision of a cooperation agreement between the EU and Israel and other measures. Macron has accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of 'unacceptable' and 'shameful' behaviour in blocking aid to the Palestinians in Gaza. In response, Netanyahu has accused Macron of siding with a 'murderous Islamist terrorist organisation'.
Kuwait Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Kuwait Times
Paris fountain flows red to slam Gaza bloodbath
PARIS: Pro-Palestinian activists hold a Palestinian flag and placards reading 'Gaza: Emmanuel Macron must act', 'Gaza: Ceasefire' and 'Gaza: Stop the bloodshed' after pouring red paint into the Fontaine des Innocents during a demonstration on May 28, 2025. - AFP PARIS: French activists dyed a Paris fountain red Wednesday to symbolize what they called the 'bloodbath' of Palestinians in Gaza. Activists from Oxfam and Amnesty International poured dye into the Fontaine des Innocents in the heart of the French capital, while others held placards saying 'Cease fire' and 'Gaza: stop the bloodbath'. 'This operation aims to denounce France's slow response to an absolute humanitarian emergency facing the people of Gaza today,' the activists, which included the French branch of Greenpeace, said in a joint statement. 'France cannot limit itself to mere verbal condemnations,' said former minister Cecile Duflot, executive director of Oxfam France. Clemence Lagouardat, who helped coordinate Oxfam's humanitarian response in Gaza, denounced the Zionist blockade of the besieged territory. 'The people in Gaza need everything, it's a matter of survival,' she told AFP. The Zionist offensive has killed at least 53,977 people in Gaza, mostly civilians. Continued of Page 6 Israel has now stepped up a renewed campaign to destroy Hamas, drawing international condemnation as aid trickles in following a blockade since early March that has sparked severe food and medical shortages. 'There is a genocide going on and political inaction is becoming a kind of complicity in this genocide,' said Jean-Francois Julliard, head of Greenpeace France. 'We call on (President) Emmanuel Macron to act with courage, clarity and determination to put an end to this bloodshed.' The activists urged states 'with influence over (the Zionist entity)' to press for an immediate and lasting ceasefire, an arms embargo on the Zionist entity, the revision of a cooperation agreement between the EU and the Zionist entity and other measures. Macron has accused Zionist Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of 'unacceptable' and 'shameful' behavior in blocking aid to the Palestinians in Gaza. – AFP
