Oxfam Delivers Relief & Hope

     As Summer 2006 continues into what we Americans call “the dog days,” we are struck with the thought that, despite wall to wall wars going on in various places in the world, record fuel costs and temperatures that are hotter in places than have ever been recorded, some of us can still take for granted many things about our lives.
     That can also mean that whatever we were not paying attention to, before things became ultra complicated in 2006, are most probably things that have been pushed even further back in our minds in order of priority.
     But aside from the war zones and the paths of hurricanes and floods vying for attention and donations, to help the needy, elsewhere people are still suffering unspeakable lives, not from natural disasters, but just daily survival.
     These emergencies did not just simply go away, they were pushed further back from our consciousness by the headlines and concerns of today.
     Right now occasionally in your local newspaper is a story that will not and for that matter should not go away about millions of people who face hunger and even death by starvation in Africa brought about by decades of poor economy, drought, politics and other factors.
     Also, the impact of AIDS has caused drastic food shortages.
     Crops have dried-up in the fields and desperate families are selling all they have, including precious livestock, to buy food.
     Prices for the dwindling supply of available food in the market have soared.
     In the United Kingdom a relief organization called Oxfam issues reports on these world conditions.
     The Oxfam website in fact might cause even the most hardened, uninterested observer, to wonder about world priorities.
     While Oxfam also gets down to business for on the spot relief work like Red Cross and others (at times as partners), Oxfam also challenges the status quo, bringing governments and organizations such as WTO to task over issues of unique world interest.
     Oxfam is pro-active, and seems at times to be about challenging everybody.
     “Food emergencies in Africa are occurring three times more often now than in the mid-1980’s, but the global response to famine continues to be too little, too late."
     Writing of a report just published by Oxfam, Reuters quoted the agency as saying:
     "It will cost the world far less to make a major investment now in tackling root causes of hunger than continuing the current cycle of too little, too late that has been the reality of famine relief in Africa for nearly half a century.
     “But despite that, a myopic, short-term focus has prevailed, with emergency food aid still dominating international action on Africa, rather than long-term support of agriculture, infrastructure and social safety nets,” Oxfam said.
     Particularly hard-hit in all of this have been the poorest and most vulnerable, especially the elderly, the children, AIDS-affected orphans and chronically ill, and pregnant and nursing women.
     Southern Africa has the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rates in the world.
     In some countries, more than 30 percent of the adult population is infected.
     Without much attention to long-term solutions, the need to deliver relief supplies continues.
     Oxfam, it turns out has been a leading world relief organization since its founding in UK during 1942 when a group of Quaker intellectuals, social activists, and Oxford academics formed the Oxford Committee for Famine Relief in response to the plight of refugees in Greece.
     After the war, Oxfam (a name derived from its postal code abbreviation) continued its work, sending materials and financial aid to groups, aiding the poor throughout Europe.
     As the situation in Europe improved, Oxfam's attention shifted to the needs of people in developing countries.
     Today Oxfam has strong chapters in USA and elsewhere with work going on in dozens of countries, as the organization is both watchdog and campaigner for empowerment to world humanitarian trouble spots.
     Oxfam, all conversation aside is on the spot with hands on immediate help to stricken areas.
     Currently Oxfam is helping innocent people caught up in the escalating violence in Lebanon and in Gaza, having deployed an emergency team to the area last week.
     Oxfam’s Rapid Response Team flew into Damascus, Syria and then traveled by road across the border into Lebanon.
     Oxfam’s emergency response team: Obia Nixon (top left), Shaista Aziz (top right), Graham Mackay (bottom left), Nathalie Wirt (bottom right) are working to assess what people’s needs are in Lebanon, and will support and advise Oxfam’s partners on the distribution of vital relief items.
     “More than a million people have now fled their homes in southern Lebanon and are living in schools, parks and public buildings.
     “Fuel and essential items such as medicines are in short supply because of the Israeli blockade.”
     In Gaza, Oxfam is funding essential water and sanitation equipment that will ensure people have clean water, and that sewage is properly dealt with.
     Oxfam has given a grant of $300,000 to the Coastal Water Utilities Management Company for the purchase of pipes and water accessories.
     With partners, Oxfam is providing practical help now–and calling on all sides to the conflict to immediately cease military attacks.
     “While Oxfam and others provide aid on the ground, the international community should act now to ensure that civilians are protected from violence.
     “Oxfam is committed to creating lasting solutions to global poverty, hunger, and social injustice.”
(Read More & Donate) www.oxfam.org.uk.