It’s not just drought. Or famine. Or a bad harvest. A whole host of factors are stopping nearly one billion people worldwide from having enough to eat. Oxfam is working to build a future where no one goes hungry. Pull together our GROW campaign in East Asia and help make that vision a reality. More about GROW campaign, please visit www.oxfam.org/grow.
Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines (21 December 2011) International aid agency Oxfam today warned that a disease outbreak is “waiting to happen” unless authorities quickly manage the shortage of water supply and address sanitation needs as unhygienic conditions in and around shelter areas are worsening since the flash floods hit the area over the weekend.
“There is an acute shortage of water supply, containers, and trucking capacity. Although the government, the private sector, and non-governmental organisations are working hard to provide water both for drinking and household use, it is still not enough. Sanitation facilities in evacuation centres are extremely limited such that people are resorting to defecating where ever they can. A serious disease outbreak is waiting to happen,” said Snehal Soneji, Country Director of Oxfam.
The worst-hit areas are those near the riverbanks. The survivors are now cramping in overcrowded evacuation centres which are facing serious sanitation problems.
The agency has already distributed water bottles to around 4000 families in the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan where the disaster hit on Friday. It is now stepping up assistance to help at least 5000 more families and expand to other urgent issues.
“People need not only water, they also need immediate shelter and latrines. Without bathrooms, women are finding it hard to maintain personal hygiene. They also face the added burden of caring for sick children. Pregnant women face even more difficult times ahead,” Soneji said.
Eighty percent of Cagayan de Oro has no running water and will remain so for at least a month. Noel Pedrola, Oxfam Humanitarian Officer, said “This will exacerbate the poor sanitary conditions of evacuation shelters in the days to come, and has wide-ranging implications on public health.”
At least 1010 deaths have been reported so far since the typhoon struck the area on Friday, injuring 1,603 people and affecting more than 500,000. More than 46 people are also missing. Some 262,280 people are displaced.
For inquiries, please contact Glenn Maboloc, Media Officer, +63928-504-2911 and gmaboloc@oxfam.org.uk.
More photos of the cyclone aftermath can be seen at http://www.flickr.com/photos/35949858@N07/
Regional Programme Manager (East Asia) REF INT5010
Based in Regional Centre, Bangkok – Thailand
Global post, GBP 31,987 – 40,745 net per annum Deadline: 9th December 2011.
Regional Research Coordinator (REF INT5022)
Based in Regional Centre, Bangkok – Thailand
National Post, C1, THB 83,130 – 115,916 gross per month Deadline: 6th December 2011.
Regional Information Systems Manager (REF INT5025)
Based in Regional Centre, Bangkok, Thailand
National Post, C1, THB 83,130 – 115,916 gross per month Deadline: 26th December 2011.
Regional Finance Coordinator (REF INT5023)
Based in Regional Centre, Bangkok, Thailand
National Post, C2, THB 74,000 – 95,833 gross per month Deadline: 15th December 2011.
Jakarta – Government is urged to immediately overcome food crisis in Indonesia with a solid, responsive, accurate and fair action. A group of volunteer and Alliance for Prosperous Villages call this message during celebration of World Food Day on October 16, 2011 in Bundaran HI, Jakarta. They shout out this message through Saman Dance performance (Saman is a traditional dance from Aceh that requires quick movement, accuracy and harmony) and invite public to support a campaign of “One Million Support for Local Food”.
“Food price increase and food is getting more inaccessible for community. Nowadays there are 67 million Indonesian people suffer from food crisis meanwhile we claim ourselves as an agrarian country which also rich with marine resources. Ironically, government still depends on imported food up to 65% to fee 240 Indonesian population. Obviously there is a broken system in managing food in this country”, explain Tejo Wahyu Jatmiko, National Coordinator of Alliance for Prosperous Villages.
“Imported food such as rice, salt, potato, meat, milk, onion, fruits really hit local food price”, add Tejo. Instead of feeding the poor who mostly food producers, imported food bring more pressure to their lives. “We need to support the existing local resources. In the resources constrained world, it is more difficult to produce food due to both climate change or land competition with other interest, such as utilizing food for energy”, clear Tejo.
Indonesia is very rich with various local resources that could meet the food need of the whole country. For carbohydrate there are 77 types resources, yet the government prefer to consume rice and 100% imported flour. There are 75 types of fat, but this country focus more on expanding palm oil plantation which actually have many bad impacts on social and environment. For animal protein, 100% broiler chick and 36% meat are provided from import whereas our ocean has abundant resources.
Until first semester of 2011the expenses for imported food reach 45 billion rupiah which half of it is for wheat. In fact, Indonesia has various types of local flour to replace wheat that can also bring economical benefit to local people. Giving support and protection to small food producers will create a condition where small food production could be the main and important actors in Indonesian food system.
On the other hand, consumers also need to change their diet because Indonesia is one of nation mostly consume rice. Beside growing rice becomes more difficult due to unpredicted weather, too much rice will trigger diabetes type 2.
We need appropriate, responsive and fair food policy with solid coordination among ministries. Policy which focuses on cheap price has proven to weaken this nation. Let’s support local food and its producers!
Around the world, in over 40 countries, thousands of people are participating in events to celebrate the joy and power of food.
On Saturday 15th October, just ahead of World Food Day on the 16th, Oxfam launched GROW Week. Every day we’ll be showing you what’s going on around the world – an international celebration of food with daily blogs, photo roundups, competitions and loads of ways to get involved and take action.
Follow GROW Week around the world right through this widget here!
What will happen in East Asia?
There’s a lot of activities lined up this week. Highlight include:
Phnom Penh—A coalition of NGOs is calling for greater support for small-scale food producers, especially farmers who continue to face mounting pressures in producing food for their families and the nation. Climate change along with a growing population and competition for resources such as land and water has posed new challenges for small-scale food producers to sustain their livelihood and rise out of poverty.
“The number of people is growing but agricultural land doesn’t grow, so more of the same is not enough,” said Chet Charya, Executive Director of STAR Kampuchea. “We must work together with development partners, businesses, and the government to support small-scale farmers to grow more and safer food.”
Cambodia has a huge, yet untapped potential for yield growth in small-scale agriculture. The average yield of rice—Cambodia’s most important crop—is 2.7 tonnes per hectare, about half the yield in neighboring Thailand and Vietnam. Investments in national food security must help small-scale farmers increase their yields and self-sufficiency such as by improving access to land and water, providing fair access to market, increasing their ability and confidence in adopting innovative farming techniques and giving them tools they need to produce more and better food.
In 2010, Cambodia produced over seven million tons of rice, an amount that is more than enough to feed the entire nation. However, small-scale food producers, especially women remain at risk of being harmed by food shortages as prices of food continue to rise and extreme climate events such as floods and droughts are increasing in intensity and frequency.
“Women who produce much of the food we eat are disproportionately affected because they are usually the ones responsible for finding and preparing food for the family,” said Ros Sopheap, Executive Director of Gender and Development for Cambodia. “Policies on food security must address the challenges of our women food producers.”
About 80 per cent of Cambodian people depend on agriculture. Most of them grow rice and vegetables, raise livestock, catch fish or gather non-timber forest products for domestic consumption and for selling.
“All of us—men, women and children—deserve enough, safe and hygienic food to eat,” said Dr. Chea Samnang, a Cambodian actor and UNFPA goodwill ambassador, who joined a cooking show alongside Ministers of Agriculture and Women’s Affairs at Phnom Penh’s Night Market this morning. “By working together to support small food producers, we can secure food for all Cambodian citizens.”
World Humanitarian Day is a celebration of people helping people. Every day humanitarian aid workers help millions of people around the world no matter who they are or where they are. The day recognizes the sacrifices and contributions of those who risk their lives to give others help and hope.
Today, Oxfam team in Myanmar joined a celebration in Yangon organised by United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) in collaboration with Local and International NGOs and some other UN Agencies. Around 200 people participated the event including Diplomats from Embassies and Government Officials from Department of Social Welfare as well as media personnel from Myanmar Television.
The messages delivered in the event highlighted the collaboration of humanitarian organizations and collective actions taken by the humanitarian workers around the globe, particularly in Myanmar, to help other people who are in need of helping hands in times of disasters and calamities.
Indeed, it is solidarity among the humanitarian organizations/ workers that brings about significant change in the lives of people who had suffered from loses and pains.
Another event took place in Bangkok, Thailand, where our staff, Warinmas (Dia) Kasemphongpanit, delivered a message to the humanitarian community on behalf of the United Nations Secretary General at the United Nations Office in Bangkok.
The message reads, “There is never a year without humanitarian crises. And wherever there are people in need, there are people who help them – men and women coming together to ease suffering and bring hope. From Japan to Sudan, from Pakistan to the Horn of Africa, aid workers help people who have lost their homes, loved ones and sources of income.
These humanitarians often brave great danger, far from home. They work long hours, in the most difficult conditions. Their efforts save lives in conflict and natural disaster. They also draw the world closer together by reminding us that we are one family, sharing the same dreams for a peaceful planet, where all people can live in safety, and with dignity.
On World Humanitarian Day, we honour these aid workers and thank them for their dedication. And we pay tribute to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice – in Afghanistan, Haiti and beyond. Too many have died, or suffered their own loss, in the course of duty. We pledge to do all we can to ensure the world’s humanitarians are kept safe to do their essential work.
This is also a day to examine our own lives and consider what more we can do to help — to reach out to people enduring conflict, disaster and hardship. Let those we honour today inspire us to start our own journey to make the world a better place and bring our human family more closely together.”–Ban Ki-Moon.
Be forward looking – Help develop strong leadership and management in the new region
We are looking for an exceptional leader to be Deputy Regional Director (Programmes), responsible for strategic development of quality programming across the region, including oversight of our engagement with the private sector and ensuring gender equity across the region. You’ll help define our long-term vision for the region.
You will need to be a great manager as you support, coach and manage the Country Directors for Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. You will also be an effective communicator representing Oxfam at regional and international levels.
Building on current Oxfam GB success, you’ll be part of the new senior management team, which is committed to strong leadership and cutting edge programming with women’s rights at the heart of all we do, developing our staff team to shape the future of Oxfam GB in Asia.
The requirements
To meet the challenge, you’ll need high-level leadership experience in a similarly complex and dispersed organisation. Solid financial and people management skills are clearly essential as is a wide range of programme development and implementation experience at senior levels. Experience of working in South Asia is essential, with direct experience of Pakistan and Afghanistan desirable.
How to apply?
If you believe you are the candidate we are looking for, please apply online at www.oxfam.org.uk/jobs using the job REF INT4636. The closing date: Thursday 7th July 2011. First round Telephone interviews will be conducted w/c 18th July. Second round interviews are scheduled for w/c 1st August. Only short listed will be contacted. Read the rest of this entry »
