Syria

Rich countries have resettled only 1.39 percent of the nearly five million Syrian refugees, a fraction of the 10 percent of people who need to be urgently offered a safe haven. As wealthy states meet in Geneva on 30 March to discuss the Syria refugee crisis, Oxfam urges them to redouble their efforts and offer their ‘fair share’ of support to hundreds of thousands of refugees.

Oxfam has today suspended all of its operations in the Moria camp, on the Greek island of Lesvos, in response to the deteriorating treatment of migrants due to the recent deal struck between the EU and Turkey. The Greek authorities are transforming reception facilities into detention centers, where people will be held pending their mass return to Turkey.

European border closures and restrictions are dramatically worsening the humanitarian crisis for refugees and migrants and a decision to shift the EU’s responsibility for refugees to Turkey would see the bloc bargaining its core values and abandoning fundamental legal obligations. 

The impact of the Syria crisis on Lebanon is immense and multidimensional. This report is the result of research by Oxfam and the American University, Beirut in an effort to gain a better insight into the lives and struggles of poor Lebanese households alongside Syrian and Palestinian refugee populations in Lebanon.

Only a complete end to the siege in Madaya, and in other beseiged areas such as Fua’a and Kafraya, together with guarantees for sustained aid deliveries alongside humanitarian services will alleviate the crisis in these areas. Oxfam and other leading aid agencies warn that this one off permission to deliver will be insufficient given the current shocking reported levels of malnutrition.

De-risking’ refers to financial institutions closing the accounts of clients perceived as high risk for money laundering or terrorist financing abuse, namely money service businesses, non-profit organizations, correspondent banks and foreign embassies. This report explores the linkages between bank de-risking and the ascendance of the risk-based approach to anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT). 

The number of refugees arriving in Europe needs to be put in perspective, Oxfam said today, calling on wealthy states to help refugees and poor communities in countries neighboring Syria. 

A lack of funding has led the World Food Programme to significantly reduce food vouchers for refugees living outside of camps in Jordan in August, while maintaining the same levels of assistance for camp residents.

The number of Syrian refugees registered in neighboring countries has hit the 4 million mark, announced the UNHCR today. Oxfam says it is more than time for governments to step-up the relief effort.

Total aid pledged at the Third International Humanitarian Pledging Conference for Syria, in Kuwait City, Kuwait, is less than half the amount needed this year to help people in desperate humanitarian need.