conflict

"The new restrictions on entry for Syrians into Lebanon are part of a worrying, wider trend reflecting quite simply less and less opportunities for Syrians to escape conflict inside Syria," said Camilla Jelbart Mosse, Oxfam's Syria Campaign Manager.

A year after the fighting started in South Sudan the country remains in a severe food crisis with up to 2.5m people estimated to be at risk of hunger if the conflict continues, Oxfam warned today.

Gareth Price-Jones, Oxfam's Humanitarian Affairs Representative, said: “Governments meeting in Geneva today had the opportunity to transform the lives of some of Syria’s most vulnerable refugees – an opportunity they largely failed to take

Over 30 international organizations are calling on governments meeting in Geneva tomorrow to commit to offering sanctuary to at least 5 per cent of the most vulnerable refugees from Syria currently in neighboring countries - 180,000 people - by the end of 2015.

In response to WFP food cuts for Syrian refugees, Andy Baker who heads up Oxfam's response to the Syria crisis said: "Millions of Syrians have left their country to flee war, death and destruction. It is unthinkable to leave them hungry. Rich countries must step up and support the World Food Program."

Afghan women are consistently excluded from Afghanistan’s peace negotiations and formal talks about the country’s future. Unless this discrimination is reversed, Afghanistan’s development will be compromised, and enormous human rights gains made since the fall of the Taliban will remain under threat.

Oxfam welcomes the importance placed in Berlin on assisting neighbouring countries, but words alone are not enough.

The bulk of money pledged at the global donor conference to rebuild Gaza will languish in bank accounts for decades before it reaches people unless long-standing Israeli restrictions on imports are lifted, Oxfam said today. 

Agencies fear recent improvements will be wiped out as the number of severely hungry people will rise by one million in first three months of 2015.

Without an end to the fighting – and unless more aid can be delivered to those who need it – famine remains a serious threat in South Sudan in 2015. By committing to more vigorous diplomacy and swift action, the world has the chance to prevent that.