Press releases

Taxes that disproportionately affect ordinary Europeans – consumption and labour taxes – bring in 13 times more revenue than taxes on wealth, which are paid mainly by the super-rich, according to a new analysis by Oxfam. In 2022, consumption taxes like VAT and labour taxes made up almost 8 out of every 10 euros of the total tax revenue in EU countries, while taxes on wealth contributed less than 60 cents for every 10 euros collected. 

The risk of waterborne disease outbreak is rising as the water and sanitation system across 11 districts in Bangladesh have been submerged or disrupted by recent floods, said Oxfam today.  

In reaction to today’s Israeli raids across West Bank refugee camps, Oxfam MENA Regional Director Sally Abi Khalil said: "The latest Israeli military offensive in the West Bank overnight is deeply concerning, resulting in numerous possible violations of international humanitarian law." 

Oxfam and partners are delivering urgent aid to people affected by the severe flash floods in Bangladesh. Millions of people are stranded and in desperate need of aid.

New displacement orders issued by Israeli authorities have forced another mass movement of families and humanitarian workers from areas in Deir al-Balah - one of the only remaining areas in the occupied Gaza Strip with essential infrastructure and warehouses storing aid supplies.

The MPox epidemic has reached alarming levels in the Democratic Republic of Congo, as more than 15,000 cases and over 540 deaths have been reported across the country since the beginning of the year. Oxfam is mounting an immediate response particularly in the most affected province of Equateur.  

After two months of no contact, CARE International, Oxfam and Save the Children are repeating their calls for immediate access to staff detained by authorities in northern Yemen and for their immediate and unconditional release.  

Oxfam International announced today the appointment of Amitabh Behar as its new Executive Director. Behar is a global civil society leader, with three decades of experience and extensive work on human rights, economic inequalities, governance accountability, philanthropy, democracy and social justice. 

People in South Sudan’s Pibor county are forced to survive on wild vegetables, and desert dates as the number of people dying from starvation rises. With torrential rains halting aid flights, the situation could get much worse quickly, warned Oxfam today.  

Responding to the Rio de Janeiro G20 Ministerial Declaration on International Tax Cooperation published today, Oxfam International’s Tax Policy Lead Susana Ruiz, said: "This is serious global progress —for the first time in history, the world’s largest economies have agreed to cooperate to tax the ultra-rich. Finally, the richest people are being told they can't game the tax system or avoid paying their fair share."
 

The richest 1 percent have amassed $42 trillion in new wealth over the past decade, nearly 34 times more than the entire bottom 50 percent of the world’s population, according to new analysis by Oxfam today ahead of the third meeting of G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 

In reaction to the UN's 2024 edition of the SOFI report, Eric Munoz, Oxfam’s food policy expert, said: “Global hunger remains stuck at shamefully high levels, driven by many reasons that together become convenient excuses for our governments to avoid decisive action. 

Reacting to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) advisory opinion on legal consequences arising from Israel's policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, Sally Abi Khalil, Oxfam’s Regional Director for the Middle East said: “This is an historic ruling that lays bare Israel’s criminal actions that have denied rights, marginalised and subjugated Palestinians for decades. 

A new Oxfam report reveals how Israel has been systematically weaponizing water against Palestinians in Gaza, showing disregard for human life and international law.  

In response to the latest Israeli attack on the Al-Mawasi so-called “safe zone”, as described by Israel, Oxfam’s Regional Director for the Middle East, Sally Abi Khalil, said: “Once again, we are witnessing the absolute disregard Israel has for Palestinian lives and for international law. 

G20  countries to support a “new global deal to tax the world’s ultra-rich individuals” in an open letter published today. Ensuring the ultra-rich pay their fair share “would reduce inequality and raise trillions of dollars necessary for investments in industrial policy and a just transition.”

Ahead of the first plenary of the newly elected European Parliament, more than 90 human rights and humanitarian organisations are sounding the alarm over attempts by the EU and EU countries to offload their migration responsibilities to countries outside of Europe.

Rich countries have again effectively short-changed low- and middle-income countries as part of international climate change negotiations by as much as $88 billion in 2022, the latest year of newly reported figures, says Oxfam.

Oxfam and other NGOs condemn the attack on the children's hospital in Kyiv.

Aid agencies operating in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) have issued an urgent warning that the number of Israeli settler attacks on Palestinians has escalated dramatically since October 7, surpassing 1,000 incidents. This alarming increase has heightened the need for immediate and concrete action from the international community to protect Palestinian communities.