Humanitarian

Rafah reopening must see free movement of Palestinian people and goods: Oxfam

February 2, 2026

Reacting to today’s reopening of the Rafah Crossing between Egypt and Gaza, Oxfam’s oPt Policy Lead Bushra Khalidi said:

“We welcome the reopening of Rafah which is desperately needed for people who have been trapped without options for so many months of closure imposed as part of a broader siege on Gaza. A crossing that functions at the discretion of external parties and allows only a nominal number of Palestinian people to cross daily, does not amount to freedom of movement, a fundamental right.

“People, goods and humanitarian assistance must be able to move safely, unhindered and in line with international law. People must be able to leave and return safely without fear of being stranded or permanently forcibly displaced. Rafah needs to operate consistently, predictably, and at a scale that reflects the catastrophic needs in Gaza – starting with, but not limited to, medical evacuations.

There must be an end to Israel’s illegal blockade and occupation, which turned Gaza’s crossings into instruments of discretionary control shaped by multiple state actors, rather than channels for free movement. All crossings must be open for the movement of people, humanitarian assistance, and goods.”

Contact information:

For more details, please contact: [email protected]

100 days into ceasefire Gaza still deliberately deprived of water as aid groups forced to scavenge under illegal blockade

January 14, 2026

Oxfam and partners restore limited water access for 156,000 amid near-total water and sanitation infrastructure collapse.

100 days into the ceasefire announcement, in a week that has seen more severe weather hitting Gaza, needs remain desperate. Oxfam and dozens of other INGOs working in Gaza have had to further adapt their operations to keep life-saving work continuing, even as they face uncertainty over new registration requirements imposed by Israeli authorities.

Despite months of severely restricted aid inflows, amidst power disruptions, access shutdowns and repeated rejection of essential materials, work has continued. Oxfam has worked around the clock with experts from local partner organisations, to restore vital water wells – even sifting through rubble to salvage and repurpose damaged materials, including sheet metal.

According to assessments carried out by Oxfam’s partner, the Coastal Municipalities Water Utility (CMWU), the total cost to rebuild all of the water and sanitation facilities, systems and infrastructure which have been destroyed or damaged by Israel in Gaza will be around $800 million. However, the figure could be even higher, since parts of Gaza remain inaccessible and construction costs have also doubled, due to the lack of materials being allowed in.

The wells restored by Oxfam and partners are located in Gaza City and Khan Younis, and are now providing at least 156,000 people with a life-saving and sustainable water supply. Work continues on a further eight wells and two water pumping stations, which should be working again by February, providing continuous fresh water for 175,000 more people.

Wassem Mushtaha, Oxfam Gaza Response lead, said: “We did not just re-open these wells. We have been solving a moving puzzle under the siege and restrictions to make the wells operational – salvaging parts, repurposing equipment, and paying inflated prices to get critical components, all while trying to keep our teams safe.

“For as long as systematic policies and practices preventing aid agencies from getting essential supplies into Gaza persist, we will have to keep finding a way to reach people in need. It’s not an acceptable situation, but as humanitarians, we can never give up trying to save lives.

“So much more could have been achieved if our efforts had not been undermined at every turn – which continues to this day. Oxfam alone has over 2 million dollars’ worth of aid and water and sanitation equipment ready to enter Gaza, but these supplies have been repeatedly rejected since March 2025.”

Israeli authorities have made a meaningful humanitarian response impossible by design. Israel defends threats to deregister up to 37 international NGOs – claiming humanitarian organisations’ impacts have been “inconsequential.” But NGOs have repeatedly appealed to Israel to be allowed to do their jobs, calling on Israel to lift restrictions undermining civilian survival. In reality, Israel continues to block effective relief efforts and the restoration of essential infrastructure.

In response to the challenges, Oxfam has increased its procurement of aid from local markets where possible, and continues to expand services in areas such as social-psychological support and health promotion, WASH, emergency livelihoods, multi-purpose cash transfer, food voucher distribution, and public health promotion – essential areas, with less reliance on materials that Israel continues to systematically reject.

Monther Shoblaq, Director General of CMWU, said aid agencies should not have to operate in a way that is needlessly time consuming and exhausting:

“While it’s commendable that dedicated staff are going to such lengths to bring water access to those who need it so desperately, the equipment needed is just across the border, blocked from entry. Agencies are having to resort to salvaging materials from the rubble of bombed water infrastructure and the remains of people’s homes, repurposing parts, and paying inflated prices. This is the direct result of Israeli restrictions, last-resort measures forced by siege conditions.

Needs in Gaza exceed far beyond the aid and reconstruction materials Israel is allowing in and the situation will worsen if Israel’s collective punishment and illegal blockade continues. Water deprivation is just one of the many human rights violations Israel has undertaken with impunity. Oxfam and other organisations who have operated in Gaza for decades must be allowed to respond at the scale.

Ends

Notes to editors

Notes to editor

Since the Gaza ceasefire was announced, 100 days ago, on 8 October, Israel’s military attacks continue. Over 440 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed. Over 2,500 residential buildings have been destroyed, leaving people forced into displacement. Severe restrictions on aid inflows persist.

Despite all the access and security challenges, Oxfam has reached over 1.3 million people in Gaza with aid since the beginning of the escalation in conflict in October 2023.

According to the UN, 1.1 million Palestinian in Gaza are in urgent need of assistance in the harsh winter conditions.

In a recent survey conducted by Oxfam, examining households in Khan Younis and Gaza Governorates, it has found:

87 per cent of people lacked access to basic essential services
89 per cent were dependent on unsustainable water trucking to get just the bare minimum level of water needed to survive
66 per cent of latrines used by those surveyed were partially functioning or in need of repair, meaning many were resorting to open defecation, risking the spread of disease
84 per cent of households reported outbreaks of disease in the last few weeks
77 per cent of households had no income whatsoever

A recent report – Preliminary Environmental Damage Assessment Report of the Israeli War on the Gaza Strip, 2023–2025, published by the Palestinian Environment Quality Authority (EQA), reported: (*Report in Arabic, translation available on request)

Catastrophic Infrastructure Collapse

80%+ of water facilities destroyed – networks, pumping stations, main lines, tanks, wells
700,000 linear meters of water networks destroyed (main and branch lines)
134 of 214 water projects destroyed completely or partially
Only 84 facilities operating at 15.5 m³/day capacity
Production collapsed 84% – only 21,200 m³/day vs. 255,000 m³/day pre-war
Water per capita: As low as 3 liters/day in northern Gaza (vs. WHO emergency minimum of 15 liters/day)

Wells & Infrastructure

162 of 284 wells destroyed completely or partially (93 severely damaged)
9 water tanks of various sizes destroyed
70% of Israeli supply lines to Gaza destroyed
Of the 3 desalination plants, only one is fully operational, with one totally destroyed, and one only partially operational
Current desalination: 18,500 m³/day (only 55% of pre-war capacity of 33,000 m³/day)

Groundwater Contamination

·97% of groundwater already non-potable pre-war
Chloride levels: 1,000 mg/L (WHO limit: 250 mg/L)
Nitrate levels: Up to 400 mg/L (WHO limit: 50 mg/L)
Water table: Dropped to -19 meters below sea level
120,000 m³/day of untreated sewage discharged into sea and land

Sewage Catastrophe

All 6 wastewater treatment plants: Out of service (total capacity: 52 million m³/year)
120,000 m³/day of raw sewage discharged to sea and land
Sewage network destruction causing groundwater contamination
Beach water: High levels of intestinal parasites (Ascaris, Entamoeba, Giardia

Long term environmental impact

Groundwater: Already 97% non-potable – will take generations to recover

In recent days OCHA has reported

Heavy rains have damaged and overwhelmed water infrastructure in the Gaza Strip. To keep de-watering pumps operational, the humanitarian community is engaging with Israeli authorities to allow entry of specialized equipment.
Flooding is often compounded by sewage overflow from damaged systems. Yet basic equipment like water pumps, sandbags, and construction materials such as timber and plywood needed to reinforce shelters and drainage are delayed or rejected under “dual-use” restrictions and bureaucratic clearance processes.

40% of the population are living in flood-prone areas

Gaza Humanitarian Situation Report published Jan 9 stated:

Between 5 and 8 January, 36 WASH Cluster partners trucked 21,530 cubic metres (m3) of drinking water and 10,453 m3 of domestic water daily to displaced families through 2,350 water points across the Strip. This effort involves collecting water from three seawater desalination plants, up to 64 brackish water desalination plants, more than 100 groundwater wells, and deploying a fleet of 250 water trucks.
On 8 January, the Cluster completed the installation of the Beit Lahia Desalination Plant. The plant consists of three units with a total production capacity of 35 m3 per hour and has begun distributing water to various areas across Beit Lahiya, in North Gaza Governorate.
Critical challenges include severe limitations on fuel access for WASH services, which affect water production and distribution, solid waste management, stormwater management and repair activities. There is also a shortage of essential humanitarian items such as generators, reverse osmosis systems, and spare parts for pumps, generators and vehicles. Slow approvals for the entry of water reservoirs and pipes are preventing WASH actors from installing safe water collection points, forcing communities to collect water directly from water trucks.

Contact information:

For more details, please contact: [email protected]

53 International NGOs warn Israel’s recent registration measures will impede critical humanitarian action

January 3, 2026

International humanitarian organisations operating in the occupied Palestinian territory warn that Israel’s recent registration measures threaten to halt INGO operations at a time when civilians face acute and widespread humanitarian need, despite the ceasefire in Gaza.

On 30 December, 37 INGOs received official notification that their registrations would expire on 31 December 2025. This triggers a 60-day period after which INGOs would be required to cease operations in Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

INGOs are integral to the humanitarian response, working in partnership with the United Nations and Palestinian civil society organisations to deliver lifesaving assistance at scale. The United Nations, the Humanitarian Country Team, and donor governments have repeatedly affirmed that INGOs are indispensable to humanitarian and development operations and have urged Israel to reverse course.

Despite the ceasefire, humanitarian needs remain extreme. In Gaza, one in four families survives on just one meal a day. Winter storms have displaced tens of thousands, leaving 1.3 million people in urgent need of shelter. INGOs deliver more than half of all food assistance in Gaza, run or support 60 per cent of field hospitals, implement nearly three-quarters of shelter and non-food item activities, and provide all treatment for children with severe acute malnutrition. Their removal would close health facilities, halt food distributions, collapse shelter pipelines, and cut off life-saving care. In the West Bank, ongoing military raids and settler violence continue to drive displacement. Further restrictions on INGOs would sharply reduce the reach and continuity of lifesaving assistance at a critical moment.

Recent efforts to assess the impact of deregistering INGOs through selective metrics do not capture how humanitarian assistance is delivered in practice. Humanitarian access must be measured by whether civilians receive the right assistance, in the right place, at the right time. INGOs operate under strict donor-mandated compliance frameworks, including audits, counterterror financing controls, and due diligence requirements that meet international standards. More than 500 humanitarian workers have been killed since 7 October 2023. INGOs cannot transfer sensitive personal data to a party to the conflict since this would breach humanitarian principles, duty of care and data protection obligations. False narratives delegitimise humanitarian organisations, endanger staff, and undermine the delivery of assistance.

This is not a technical or administrative matter, but a deliberate policy choice with foreseeable consequences. If registrations are allowed to lapse, the Israeli government will obstruct humanitarian assistance at scale. Humanitarian access is not optional, conditional, or political. It is a legal obligation under international humanitarian law. This move would also set a dangerous precedent by extending Israeli authority over humanitarian operations in the occupied Palestinian territory, contrary to the internationally recognised legal framework governing the territory and the role of the Palestinian Authority.

We call on the Government of Israel to immediately halt deregistration proceedings and lift measures obstructing humanitarian assistance. We urge donor governments to use all available leverage to secure the suspension and reversal of these actions. Independent, principled humanitarian operations must be protected to ensure civilians can receive the assistance they urgently need.

Note to editors:

The role of INGOs is irreplaceable across all humanitarian sectors:
- Health: INGOs run or support approximately 60 percent of Gaza’s field hospitals. Deregistration would result in the immediate closure of roughly one in three health facilities.
- Food security: INGOs delivered more than half of all food assistance in 2024, including the majority of cooked-meal distribution points.
- Shelter: INGOs have implemented nearly three-quarters of all shelter and non-food item activities. Approximately 600,000 shelter items are currently in INGO supply pipelines.
- Water and sanitation: INGOs deliver 42 percent of all WASH services, including outbreak prevention and response for acute watery diarrhoea.
- Nutrition: INGOs support all five stabilisation centres treating children with severe acute malnutrition, representing 100 percent of Gaza’s treatment capacity.
- Mine action: INGOs provide more than half of all funding for explosive hazard clearance. Removal of INGOs would result in capacity reductions of up to 100 percent.
- Education: INGOs run or support around 30 percent of emergency education activities, which already reach only a limited proportion of the school-age population.
Principled humanitarian organisations cannot transfer sensitive personal data of national staff or their families. This is consistent with humanitarian principles, duty-of-care obligations, and global data protection standards applied across all contexts.
Restrictions on INGOs also directly affect Palestinian and Israeli partner organisations, undermining local response capacity, disrupting funding flows, and weakening community-based service delivery across sectors.
INGOs are legally authorised to operate and remain committed to delivering humanitarian assistance through UN coordination systems and local partnerships, while continuing to seek the removal of measures that obstruct aid delivery.

Signatories:
1. Acs
2. Action Against Hunger (ACF)
3. Action for Humanity
4. ActionAid
5. American Friends Service Committee (AFSC)
6. Amnesty International
7. AOI – Cooperazione e Solidarietà internazionale – Italia
8. CADUS e.V.
9. Campaign for the Children of Palestine (CCP Japan)
10. CARE Canada
11. CARE International UK
12. Children are Not Numbers
13. Churches for Middle East Peace
14. CISS – Cooperazione Internazionale Sud Sud
15. Council for Arab-British Understanding (Caabu)
16. DanChurchAid
17. Danish Refugee Council
18. Diakonia
19. EducAid
20. Emergency NGO
21. Fondation Terre des hommes Lausanne
22. Glia
23. HEKS/EPER – Swiss Church Aid
24. Human Rights Solidarity
25. Humanity & Inclusion – Handicap International
26. INTERPAL
27. Islamic Relief
28. Japan International Volunteer Center (JVC)
29. Médecins du Monde – Suisse
30. Médecins du Monde – France
31. Médecins Sans Frontières
32. Medical Aid for Palestinians
33. medico international
34. Medicos Del Mundo (MDM – Spain)
35. Mennonite Central Committee
36. Middle East Children’s Alliance
37. NORWAC ( Norwegian aid committee)
38. Norwegian Church Aid
39. Norwegian People’s Aid
40. Norwegian Refugee Council
41. Oxfam
42. Pax Christi USA
43. Peace Winds Japan
44. Premiere Urgence Internationale
45. Quakers in Britain
46. Solidarités International
47. Terre des hommes Italy
48. Un Ponte Per
49. United Against Inhumanity
50. Vento di Terra ETS
51. War Child Alliance Foundation
52. War on Want
53. WeWorld-GVC

Contact information:

For more details or to arrange an interview, please contact: [email protected]

Millions stranded as conflict and aid cuts in South Sudan drive surge in suffering – Oxfam

November 26, 2025

Donors provided lowest aid funding ever in 2025, since country created in 2011

Almost 6 million people – nearly half of the population – in South Sudan are experiencing acute hunger, with little access to clean water or sanitation as funding cuts have stripped away vital humanitarian support just as it is needed the most, Oxfam warned today.

Massive reductions in funding from governments, including huge cuts across USAID (United States Agency of International Development), have forced humanitarian programmes to significantly scale down, while the number of people in need of support has soared. More than 2 million people are currently displaced due to conflict across the country and widespread flooding; with over a million people fleeing the civil war in neighbouring Sudan.

This year, South Sudan has seen the least amount of funding ever provided by institutional donors since the country was created in 2011. With only a month of the year left, the country’s $1.7 billion emergency Humanitarian Need and Response Plan for 2025 is less than 41 per cent funded.

In Renk, one of the country’s most densely populated and vulnerable towns where up to 1,000 people are arriving at transit centres every day, Oxfam is being forced to scale down its operations there by 70 per cent over the next month. Unless new funding is secured by February, Oxfam will have to shut down its operations there entirely.

Shabnam Baloch, Oxfam’s South Sudan Country Director, said: “These aid cuts are catastrophic for the millions of people already grappling with extreme hunger and disease. We are now confronted with the heartbreaking reality of having to scale back our humanitarian response and in Renk, potentially have to close entirely in less than three months. It is as though the world is turning its back on those who need help the most, at the very moment when their survival hangs in the balance.”

Many people who have fled the deadly conflict and hunger in Sudan are living in the border town of Renk, where communities are grappling with multiple health crises. Currently, there is only one clean water tap for every 433 people in one transit centre – almost half the accepted humanitarian standard.

New cases of cholera, acute watery diarrhoea and Hepatitis E continue to be reported, with 450 (35 per cent) hospitals or health clinics either closed or severely disrupted.

A recent Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report for South Sudan found that nearly 6 million people are experiencing acute hunger; this includes nearly 1.3 million people with very high acute malnutrition and an increased mortality rate. The report forecasts that these figures will worsen, reaching 7.5 million people in crisis by April next year.

Oxfam warns there is a significant risk of many more being tipped into catastrophic levels of hunger as support continues to be removed.

Maria, a returnee from Sudan said: “Few organizations are now operating, unlike before when there were many. Now there is poor sanitation and hygiene, many water taps no longer work. We fear for the fact we no longer see the help we had before. Households are now minimising the amount of water they use, and we could see a worse situation where there is little or no water at all. Yet water is life.”

Oxfam is also concerned that the huge cuts to humanitarian assistance are directly translating into increased vulnerability and heightened protection risks for women and girls.

Baloch said: “Desperate families will be forced to turn to harmful coping mechanisms if they are unable to get any support. Awful consequences, such as child marriage or sending women and girls to forage for resources in unsafe areas, where they risk exposure to sexual violence and exploitation.

“We urge International donors not to forget what is happening in Sudan and the knock-on impact on South Sudan, where millions of vulnerable people could be left to starve or face a rapid spread in disease if the vital lifeline of aid is not urgently restored.”

Notes to editor:

UN OCHA’s Financial Tracking Service shows the Humanitarian Need and Response plan (HNRP) for South Sudan, with requirements and funding gaps each year since 2011 (Please see table below)

The World Food Programme announced last week a near $400m funding shortfall for the next six months and the impact of cuts

Oxfam is currently supporting 44,000 refugees and returnees in Renk with clean water, and sanitation services. Among them are more than 9,000 people residing in Transit Centre 2 (TC2), where water, sanitation, and hygiene conditions are already critically overstretched. UNHCR and IOM data shows the number of people arriving each day.

The IPC analysis on South Sudan was published on 4 November 2025

The humanitarian standard for the number of people per tap of clean water is generally set at a maximum of 250 people per tap. In the transit centres in Renk, there are just 30 functioning clean water taps for 13,000 people.

Contact information:

For more details, please contact: [email protected]

Sudan: Two years into the conflict, the world’s largest humanitarian crisis now threatens regional stability

April 15, 2025

Upcoming rains and aid cuts could further hamper humanitarian efforts and push millions of people to famine

As Sudan’s conflict enters its third year, massive displacement and fighting are spilling over into neighbouring countries, worsening the already catastrophic humanitarian crisis. The looming rainy season, combined with aid cuts by the US and other key donors, will severely hamper humanitarian efforts putting millions of lives at risk, a new Oxfam report warned today.

Sudan’s brutal conflict has created the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. More than 12.7 million people —nearly one-third of the population— have been forced to flee their homes, including 3.7 million to neighbouring countries. One in two Sudanese is hungry. Five areas in the country are already experiencing famine, and nearly eight million more people are at risk of starvation.

The upcoming rains could turn roads to mud, and trigger the collapse of vital bridges, cutting off entire areas and communities from essential aid and services. This period coincides with the annual lean season when food insecurity already peaks.

The Oxfam report –The Unravelling of the World’s Largest Humanitarian Disaster: From the Sahel to the Red Sea – published jointly with humanitarian organisations responding to the Sudan crisis, highlights the staggering human cost of the Sudan conflict. It warns that the crisis is now spilling over neighbouring South Sudan and Chad, where humanitarian needs are already dire.

Fati N’Zi-Hassane, Oxfam in Africa Director, said:

“We are already witnessing clashes between armed groups from South Sudan and Sudan. This volatile situation is simmering like a volcano ready to erupt any minute. Unless the fighting stops and the humanitarian crisis is addressed, the situation could quickly turn into a full-blown regional catastrophe.”

Two of the host countries, South Sudan and Chad, are already among the world’s poorest countries. They grapple with ongoing conflict, food insecurity, and climate shocks, leaving them ill-equipped to manage the crisis.

In South Sudan, the arrival of people fleeing Sudan’s conflict has put more pressure on already scarce resources, which is deepening local tensions and threatening the fragile peace South Sudan has struggled to maintain.

Nadia, a mother of five-year-old son Ismail who fled and is now sheltering in Renk, South Sudan, after soldiers killed her husband and two children says: “The war took everything. We left with nothing but the clothes on our backs. Here, we are safe from bullets, but there is no food, we are dying of hunger.”

The report also found that 17 million children in Sudan are out of school, while 65 percent of refugee children in Chad lack access to education — heightening risks of child labour, marriage, trafficking, and recruitment by armed groups.

For the first time in the history of modern humanitarian response, a single country –Sudan – reaches over 30 million people in need of humanitarian assistance. Yet, despite the rapidly worsening humanitarian crisis, international support is falling severely short. Only 10 percent of this year’s UN appeal for Sudan has been met to date.

The recent suspension of approximately $64 million USAID funding for Chad and South Sudan in 2025 has also dealt a severe blow to lifesaving efforts. In 2024, the U.S. was the largest donor to both countries.

“Turning a blind eye to this crisis would not only be a profound political and moral failure, but a failure of our core humanity. Without immediate injection of funds, millions of people will simply die of starvation or disease,” added N’Zi-Hassane.

The report urges all warring parties to halt fighting and prioritize diplomacy, in order to forge an immediate and lasting ceasefire.

Note to editors

Read “The Unravelling of the World’s Largest Humanitarian Disaster: From the Sahel to the Red Sea”. The report is jointly endorsed by Sudan and South Sudan Forum, Inter Agency Working group (IAWG) for East and central Africa and Forum des ONG en Afrique de l’Ouest et centrale (FONGI)
Oxfam is supporting 150,000 people fleeing the conflict to Renk, South Sudan, and has reached 94,562 refugees in the Eastern part of Chad with lifesaving clean water, hygiene facilities and cash.
Sudan currently accounts for 1 in 8 internally displaced persons (IDPs) worldwide and 1 in 13 refugees globally, making it the world’s largest displacement crisis.
Sudan war has left 4.8 million people across neighbouring countries (Egypt, Libya, South Sudan, Chad, Ethiopia and Uganda) in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. This is up from 1.8 million in mid-2023, more than the double.
Despite funding needs, only a third of the Regional Refugee Response Plan was met last year.
In South Sudan, the number of people needing assistance has more than doubled over the past decade—from 4.1 million in 2015 to 9 million in 2025 while in Chad, one in three people – about 7 million people need assistance in 2025.
The UN appeal for Sudan Humanitarian Response Plan for 2025 was US$ 434.5 million. Only 10 percent of this amount has been funded according to the UNOCHA Financial Tracking Service portal.
Approximately $64 million USAID funding for Chad and South Sudan in 2025 has been cut. Source: The Center for Global Development.
In December 2024, the Famine Review Committee (FRC) classified a Famine (IPC Phase 5) in five areas in Sudan: Zamzam, Abu Shouk and Al Salam camps in Al Fasher locality and in the Western Nuba Mountains. It also projected that Famine would expand to five additional areas by May 2025.

CONTACT

Spokespeople are available for interviews. For more information, contact:

Rachel Schaevitz at [email protected]

Myanmar earthquake: Risk of waterborne disease outbreak amidst devastation compounded by weekend heavy rains

April 8, 2025

Heavy rains that struck Mandalay and Sagaing – the epicenter of the recent earthquake in Myanmar – at the weekend have further complicated the humanitarian situation. The existing lack of sanitation and clean water is now increasing the risk of waterborne diseases, said Oxfam today.

Rajan Khosla, Oxfam in Myanmar Country Director, said:

“The recent heavy rains have added to the challenges faced by the survivors of this earthquake, further affecting those who are already struggling. Hundreds of thousands of people are seeking shelter in temporary accommodations or in open areas, with limited access to clean water and proper sanitation.”

The destruction of roads and bridges, together with the disruption in telecommunications have already slowed rescue and relief operations over the past week. Millions of people in hardest-hit areas remain with limited access to electricity, clean water and sanitation, and essential services.

The 7.7-magnitude quake – the worst to hit Myanmar in decades – has left a trail of devastation, particularly in the regions of Mandalay, Sagaing, parts of Shan, and Nay Pyi Taw.

The UN has estimated that the earthquake has affected more than 17 million people across 57 of the country’s 330 townships. Over 3,400 people have been announced dead and thousands more injured, and the number is still rising.

Oxfam’s team was among the first to reach the hardest-hit areas, providing lifesaving supplies to prevent the outbreak of disease, particularly acute watery diarrhea. Together with our partners, Oxfam is providing people in shelters with lifesaving water, sanitation and hygiene kits, blankets, mosquito nets and other essential supplies.

Oxfam’s Water, Sanitation and Hygiene expert in Mandalay, said:

“Heavy rains flooded drains, polluting the environment and increasing public health risks including diarrhoea due to flies and insects. Many camps lack proper latrines, forcing people to dispose of human waste without adequate sanitation.” He added, “there are significant hygiene challenges for the camp population, as food is cooked outdoors, making it difficult to prepare meals after rain. This increases the risk of contamination and the spread of diseases.”

Myanmar was already reeling from a severe humanitarian crisis, with almost 20 million people – a third of the population –needing humanitarian assistance. The situation is now catastrophic. But despite the scale of need, the country remains one of the world’s most underfunded humanitarian crises. Less than 40 percent of the UN Humanitarian appeal for Myanmar was met last year.

Rajan said: “This tragedy underscores the need for a coordinated international response and significant support to help Myanmar recover and rebuild. The road to recovery is long, and every contribution can make a significant difference in the lives of those impacted by this devastating earthquake,”

Oxfam is scaling up its response to reach the most vulnerable groups in hardest hit areas, particularly women, children, and people with disability.

//END

Notes to editors

Oxfam in Myanmar has been working to support communities in Myanmar since 2008, following the devastating Cyclone Nargis in the Delta region. Since then, we have expanded our programmes with the aim of reducing poverty and suffering in Myanmar, working closely with communities and local partners.
Immediately after the earthquake, Oxfam has mobilized to deliver urgent relief to the hardest hit areas. Together with our partners, our teams have reached thousands of people, particularly in Mandalay and Sagaing, with hygiene and dignity kits, as well as, cooked food, water, mosquito nets and blankets.

Contact information

Rachel Schaevitz at [email protected]