News & Media

Israel’s forced displacement orders in Lebanon may constitute grave breaches of International Humanitarian Law, say aid agencies.

December 20, 2024

The 136 forced displacement orders Israel imposed on 25 per cent of Lebanon during its 62 – day war were woefully inadequate, unnecessarily dangerous and likely illegal, aid agencies said today.

These orders, which Israel called evacuations, either targeted defined locations, were mass orders that encompassed entire villages, neighbourhoods and towns, or vague directives on nonspecific areas that collectively forced 1.4 million people to flee their homes to overcrowded shelters, and some onto the streets, as nearly every governate in Lebanon came under attack.

In a joint report released today, Forced Displacement Orders: Debunking the Myth of Humane Attacks, ActionAid and Oxfam reveal that so-called evacuation orders between September 23rd and October 31s may amount to a campaign of forcible transfer— a grave breach of International Humanitarian Law (IHL). The report highlights how these displacements were neither legitimate nor safe, leaving families without shelter or protection and raising serious concerns about potential war crimes.

The report found the orders were impossible to comply with and triggered waves of mass displacement that failed to meet all standards of IHL which demands effective advance warnings that are clear, targeted, and give sufficient time to allow people to leave safely, as well as a timeline for them to return home.

Out of the 3334 air strikes Israel conducted from Sept 23 to Oct 31st, only 117 (3.5 per cent) area specific forced displacements orders were issued. On average, the orders were sent with only 15-45 minutes warning before a strike, with the majority issued in the middle of the night between 10pm and 4am.

“The chaos, destruction, and disruption caused by these displacements will continue to affect the most vulnerable communities long after the ceasefire,” said Oxfam Lebanon Country Director Bachir Ayoub.

“Entire communities—many already among the most vulnerable, including Syrian and Palestinian refugees and migrant workers—were uprooted from their homes and thrust into life-threatening conditions. Thousands, already struggling, saw their vulnerabilities deepen, pushing them to the brink. Many were forced to seek refuge into places where privacy, sanitation, and safety were severely inadequate, putting women and girls at heightened risk of gender-based violence. Essential services like clean water and healthcare have been damaged, while the disruption of schooling has deprived tens of thousands of children of their basic right to education.”

Sudipta Kumar, ActionAid’s Regional Director for the Arab Region, said: “The impact of these attacks by Israeli forces will be felt for many years to come. After the ceasefire, thousands of families returned to their towns and villages to find their homes reduced to wreckage. Many have been left with nothing and cannot afford to rebuild.

“The only way to protect people in Lebanon from further upheaval is to agree an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Lebanon and in Gaza. Until then, families in Lebanon will continue to live in fear that bombs could start dropping on their homes again at any moment.”

Forced displacement is prohibited under IHL, and evacuation is only lawful when civilian safety and well-being are guaranteed, including access to shelter, hygiene, health services, food, and family unity. The agencies found that Israel’s displacement orders in Lebanon failed to meet these conditions, offering no adequate provisions for civilian welfare. As a result, these actions constitute a grave breach of IHL and show blatant disregard for civilian safety.

To ensure that the tens of thousands of civilians still unable to return home can rebuild their lives—and to preserve Lebanon’s fragile peace—the agencies call for all efforts to ensure the current ceasefire agreement in Lebanon holds, an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza is reached with all violations condemned and urgently addressed. As well the as immediate and safe return of displaced people in South Lebanon.

The international community must halt the transfer of weapons and military equipment where there is a risk they will be used to commit further IHL violations and hold all parties accountable for any IHL violations to ensure civilians, regardless of their location or circumstances, are protected.

Notes to editors

Download Oxfam’s report Forced Displacement Orders: Debunking the Myth of Humane Attacks

Oxfam condemns Russia’s third large-scale attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in recent weeks

December 13, 2024

Ukrainians woke up to missile warnings and the sound of explosions today as Russia launched multiple attacks across the country early in the morning, once again targeting the country’s energy facilities leaving half of the country’s population without electricity. This is the third large-scale attack on Ukraine’s power grid in recent weeks. Oxfam warns of the impact on Ukraine’s civilian population.

“Oxfam condemns Russia’s massive attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure this morning affecting millions of civilian populations in Ukraine.

“Russia’s systemic attack on Ukraine’s vital infrastructure since the start of the conflict has more than halved the country’s energy capacity, leaving people to cope without essential services like water, communications, and heating. The situation is expected to get worse in the coming months as Ukrainians brace for what is expected to be the toughest winter since the war escalated in 2022.

“Attacks on critical civilian infrastructure are against International Humanitarian Law and we reiterate the call for all warring parties to respect IHL and protect all civilians, including infrastructure that is crucial for their survival.”

Oxfam says: COP29 deal is a “global Ponzi scheme”

November 25, 2024

Responding to the COP29 climate finance agreement, in which rich countries agree to mobilize $300 billion a year to help Global South countries cope with warming temperatures and switch to renewable energy, Oxfam International’s Climate Change Policy Lead, Nafkote Dabi, said:

“The terrible verdict from the Baku climate talks shows that rich countries view the Global South as ultimately expendable, like pawns on a chessboard. The $300 billion so-called ‘deal’ that poorer countries have been bullied into accepting is unserious and dangerous —a soulless triumph for the rich, but a genuine disaster for our planet and communities who are being flooded, starved, and displaced today by climate breakdown. And as for promises of future funding? They’re just as hollow as the deal itself.”

Oxfam Aotearoa’s Climate Justice Lead Nick Henry said: “The failure to meet the global need for climate finance is a failure of empathy from the leaders of rich countries.”

“New Zealand’s climate grants are an essential lifeline for our Pacific region and a positive example of public grants, not debt. Our government needs to continue ramping up this finance to at least meet our fair share of the new global goal.”

Oxfam International’s Climate Change Policy Lead, Nafkote Dabi continues, “The money on the table is not only a pittance in comparison to what’s really needed –it’s not even real “money”, by and large. Rather, it’s a motley mix of loans and privatized investment –a global Ponzi scheme that the private equity vultures and public relations people will now exploit. The destruction of our planet is avoidable, but not with this shabby and dishonorable deal. The richest polluters need to wise up —and pay up.”

Contact information

Rachel Schaevitz in Auckland, NZ | [email protected] | 027 959 5555
Jeshua Hope in Suva, Fiji | [email protected] | +679 7500889

COP29 must deliver more than “threadbare promises”

November 22, 2024

In response to the latest climate finance draft text at COP29, Oxfam International’s Climate Justice Lead, Safa’ Al Jayoussi, said:

“COP29 must do more than simply repeat the same threadbare promises. Rich countries have spent decades now stalling and blocking genuine progress on climate finance. This has left the Global South suffering the most catastrophic consequences of a climate crisis they did not create. The draft text scandalously misses the crucial element of declaring a clear public commitment to a new climate finance goal.

“Rich countries, those most responsible for climate chaos, owe $5 trillion in annual climate debt and reparations. This funding must come as grants-based public financing to help communities that need it the most mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change and recover from loss and damage. Anything less will simply be a failure.

“This is not charity – it is an established obligation under international law. It is the bare minimum needed to shield frontline communities from devastation, allow them to rebuild after disasters pass, and ensure their just transition to a sustainable future. The next few days are a credibility test for these climate negotiations and for COP itself. The time for stalling is over. If rich countries don’t deliver, they will go down in history as having chosen profit over people and complacency over courage.”

Notes to editors

Rich countries continue to resist calls for climate reparations. Climate activists are demanding the Global North provide at least $5 trillion a year in public finance to the Global South.

Contact information

Rachel Schaevitz in Auckland, NZ I [email protected]

Jeshua Hope in Suva, Fiji | [email protected] | +679 7500889

Global climate activists rally at Baku’s Olympic stadium with bold “Pay Up!” message

November 14, 2024

Global climate activists today gathered at Baku’s Olympic stadium —the venue for the United Nations climate talks— to urge world leaders to commit to a new, ambitious climate finance deal. The message “Pay Up!” unfolded across the stadium seats, in perfect sight from the COP29 presidency offices located on the opposite side of the arena.

COP29 has been dubbed the “finance COP” because setting a new goal for global climate finance and laying out a plan for achieving it is the big battleground issue. Activists and civil society organizations call for the new goal to drastically increase from its present $100 billion a year to $5 trillion a year in climate debt and reparations and to protect communities facing the worst impacts of the crisis.

“As communities in the Global South bear the brunt of climate disasters, it’s past time for the Global North to pay their share —without saddling us with more loans and debt,” said Marinel Ubaldo, a Make Rich Polluters Pay activist and delegate from the Philippines. “Real climate action means financing solutions that uplift, empower, and sustain our communities, free from the chains of fossil fuels and debt traps.”

Global climate policy experts underscore this year’s conference as one of the most critical since COP26 in 2021.Without more ambitious and urgent action, the world could warm by a terrifying 3.1°C by the end of the century.

Activists are also calling to make rich polluters pay through taxes on fossil fuel-intensive industries and the super-rich. Fifty of the world’s richest billionaires emit more carbon pollution through their investments, private jets and yachts in 90 minutes than the average person does in their lifetime.

“The world needs leaders who are committed to justice and fairness; this starts with honoring climate finance commitments, taxing the super-rich, phasing out fossil fuels, and holding polluters accountable,” Ubaldo added. “The climate crisis doesn’t pause for politics or profit —it demands swift, decisive, and equitable action now.”

Notes to editors

The organisers are a cross-constituency of climate groups, including Oxfam.

Oxfam’s report, “Carbon Inequality Kills,” tracks the emissions from private jets, yachts and polluting investments and details how the super-rich are fueling inequality, hunger and death across the world.

Contact information

Rachel Schaevitz/ [email protected]

Carbon Inequality Kills

October 29, 2024

The only way to beat climate breakdown and deliver social justice is to radically reduce inequality. This report reveals the catastrophic climate impacts of the richest individuals in the world, and proposes taking urgent action to protect people and the planet.

What little carbon dioxide we can still safely emit is being burned indiscriminately by the superrich. We share new evidence of how the yachts, jets and polluting investments of 50 of the world’s richest billionaires are accelerating the climate crisis. Oxfam’s research shows that the emissions of the world’s super-rich 1% are causing economic losses of trillions of dollars; contributing to huge crop losses; and leading to millions of excess deaths.

As global temperatures continue to rise, risking the lives and livelihoods of people living in poverty and precarity, we must act now to curb the emissions of the super-rich, and make rich polluters pay.

Read the report here.