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Amitabh Behar appointed as interim Executive Director of Oxfam International

Oxfam International is pleased to announce the appointment of Amitabh Behar as its new interim Executive Director. Behar is currently Executive Director for Oxfam India. He will assume the role for approximately 12 months, starting on 1 May 2023. 

Behar said that he is “honoured and delighted to take up this role” and eager to “work alongside Oxfam’s partners and allies around the world to fight for climate justice, tackle inequality in all its forms, and save, protect and rebuild lives when disaster strikes.” 

Behar, who has made valuable contributions to Oxfam’s global transformation process that has seen the confederation become more aligned and globally balanced since joining Oxfam India in 2018, brings a wealth of leadership experience as a civil society leader. He has been widely recognized for his work on people-centric advocacy, governance accountability, social and economic equality, and citizen participation. Prior to Oxfam, Behar was the Executive Director of the National Foundation for India and Co-Chair of the Global Call to Action Against Poverty. He has also served as the Vice-Chair of the Board of CIVICUS and Board Chair of Amnesty International India. He currently serves on the boards of several other organisations, including the Centre for Budget and Governance Accountability, an Indian public policy think-tank. 

Gabriela Bucher is joining The Fund for Global Human Rights on 31 April. Bucher congratulated Behar on his appointment and said she would begin immediately to work closely with him to ensure a smooth transition of leadership. Oxfam International’s Board of Supervisors is profoundly grateful to Bucher for her leadership and wishes her the very best as she moves on to new challenges. 

Oxfam reaction to IPCC’s Synthesis Report

Responding to the publication today of the IPCC’s Synthesis Report (SYR), Oxfam’s Climate Justice Lead Nick Henry said:

“This is, literally, the last chapter. The science shows that limiting global heating to 1.5°C is still possible —but only just. Unless we pull the emergency brake on deadly carbon pollution, ‘unheard-of’ heatwaves, storms, droughts and floods will continue to become more frequent and hit more places and people. People living in poverty are bearing the brunt of these climate-induced crises, including mass hunger happening now in Eastern Africa, with a rise of just 1.1°C.

“It’s outrageous that after six massive IPCC reports, 27 climate change conferences, eight hottest years on record, and multiple one-in-one-hundred year extreme weather events —with emissions still rising— governments continue to encourage the oil and gas industry to drill deeper and wider for fossil fuels. More than 600 fossil fuel lobbyists were at COP27 and an oil boss will lead the next climate talks in Dubai.

“Oil giants raked in record profits in 2022. They are extracting these riches from a stricken planet. Their statements of ecological concern ring hollow. If governments had clawed back the massive profits that oil and gas producers funneled to their rich shareholders last year, they could have increased global investments in renewable energy by nearly one-third.

“We can tackle the climate crisis and end poverty. This is not an either-or. If the richest 1 percent stopped squandering so much carbon on private jets, big polluting cars and investments in fossil fuels, the poorest half of humanity could grow their tiny carbon footprints to get their basic needs met.

“To stay within the 1.5°C guardrail, every person on Earth would need to stay below an average of 2.2 tons of CO2 emissions per year by 2030. The richest 1 percent exhaust this remaining ‘carbon budget’ in just 12 days each year, while the poorest 50 percent of humanity emits less than half over an entire year. This inequality is absolutely ridiculous.

“There’s only a sliver of a chance of limiting heating to 1.5°C but we can’t throw in the towel. Every fraction of a degree of heating prevented will be counted in millions of lives saved. Even a half-degree could make it much more difficult to grow crops, raise animals and catch fish.

“We need funds for climate action and deep cuts to emissions —not just by the richest countries, but also by the wealthiest individuals and corporations. Rich countries are most responsible for the climate crisis and must pay their debt to poorer countries by providing sufficient money for adaption, shifting to renewable energy, and addressing loss and damage. There is neither enough time nor carbon left for empty pledges and false solutions like carbon capture and storage. Endless adaptation to climate change is not possible —we need a fast and equitable phase-out of fossil fuels. Otherwise, a catastrophe for people in every country will be just around the corner, and it will be painful.”


Notes

According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the past eight years were the warmest on record globally, fueled by ever-rising greenhouse gas concentrations and accumulated heat.

At least 363 fossil fuel lobbyists were granted access to COP27.

Big Oil more than doubled its profits in 2022 to US$219 billion, more than the GDP of many countries. According to Janus Henderson Investors, the dividends of oil and gas producers totaled US$151.8 billion in 2022. The IEA reports that $472 billion was invested in renewable power in 2022. (151.8/472)*100 equals 32.2 percent.

Keeping to 1.5°C would require limiting emissions to 17Gt of CO2. Divided equally among the global population, this is approximately 2.2 tons per person. The richest 1 percent will emit this amount of carbon in 12 days, the richest 10 percent in slightly over a month, and the poorest half of humanity will emit less than half over an entire year. These calculations are based on analysis published in Oxfam’s “Carbon Inequality in 2030” briefing note in 2021. Oxfam will publish new research on carbon inequality in 2023.

Oxfam’s research found that the investments of just 125 billionaires emit 393 million tons of CO2e each year —the equivalent of France— at an individual annual average that is a million times higher than someone in the bottom 90 percent of humanity.

According to the World Inequality Lab, eradicating global poverty below US$5.50 would entail an increase in carbon emissions of approximately 18 percent. This is roughly equivalent to the emissions of the richest 1 percent (15 percent between 1990 and 2015).

Oxfam raises fresh concerns for Türkiye earthquake survivors as torrential rains and flooding batter devastated region

Survivors of last month’s devastating earthquakes in southern Turkiye have been dealt a fresh blow as heavy rains and severe flooding hit the region, with further downpours forecast in the coming hours.  

At least five people have been killed so far and at least five others are reported missing, with the provinces of Sanliurfa and Adiyaman badly impacted. 

Footage shows city streets in Sanliurfa turned into fast-flowing rivers, with cars and other debris being swept away, and people being rescued from the floodwaters.  

Thousands of people who have been living in tents since February’s earthquakes have also been affected with reports some have been evacuated. A hospital’s emergency department was inundated as well as many homes and businesses, and schools were closed. 

The General Directorate of Meteorology has issued an orange alert for a possible extreme downpour in the provinces of Kahramanmaraş, Şanlıurfa, Kilis, Gaziantep, Adıyaman, Malatya, Elazığ, Diyarbakır and Mardin, most of which were also badly impacted by the earthquakes, which killed more than 50,000 people. 

Oxfam KEDV’s Deputy Executive Director Didem Demircan said the situation was incredibly difficult for many people who had already lost everything in the last disaster. 

“The situation is extremely dire. Flooding is not unusual in this area, but to have this come in the immediate aftermath of the earthquakes is compounding the suffering of those still struggling to come to terms with the first disaster and its impact on their lives. 

“As well as the tragedy of more lives lost, roads have been blocked again limiting access, dams are overflowing and large amounts of agricultural farmland have been impacted, with some harvests likely to have been lost.  

“Floodwaters and stagnant water also increase the risk of further contamination of drinking water supplies, which were already threatened by heavy infrastructure damage, and measures must be taken to prevent the outbreak of water-borne diseases. 

“People impacted by this flooding will be in need of food, drinking water, sanitation and shelter, as well as furniture and bedding. Women will require extra support as risks to their safety always increase in disasters.” 

Oxfam is already responding to last month’s earthquakes and has been working with the National Disaster Response Platform and a network of women’s cooperatives to facilitate the distribution of food, drinking water, temporary shelter, blankets, sanitary kits and power banks. Community kitchens have also been established in various locations, including in Sanliurfa.  

Oxfam Trailwalker 2023 Results

Fastest times 100 km
1. The JMs                              17:14 (Paraparaumu, Havelock North, and Palmerston North)
2. Capital Connection             17:26 (Wellington)
3. Striders of Disfunction        17:53 (Australia)

Fastest times 50km
1. Lost in Pace                        09:04 (Auckland)
2. Proclaimers                         09:32 (Auckland)
3. The Walking Westies          09:34 (Raglan)

Oxfam Aotearoa’s Fundraising Director Ange Janse van Rensburg said:

“Completing Oxfam Trailwalker is an amazing achievement for the teams and something they will remember for the rest of their lives. The fastest 100km team was an incredible group called the JMs who hailed from all over the country and finished at a time of 17 hours and 14 minutes. It is such a thrill to watch the first team cross the finish line and the energy from spectators, friends and whānau was electric.”

Participants in teams of four took on either a 50km or 100km trail across the stunning Taranaki region, from New Plymouth city to Lake Mangamahoe and everywhere in-between. Teams started early Saturday morning and had 18 hours to complete the 50km trail or 36 hours to compete the 100km trail.

“The weather really turned it on for the event over the weekend. Clear skies gave way to the stunning view of Mt Taranaki all weekend,” said Janse van Rensburg. “Even though we had such terrific weather, this year’s event was still a real challenge through tough terrain, which certainly put the teams through their paces. The warm welcome received from New Plymouth was fantastic and will have certainly helped spur teams on through the wee hours of the night. A huge thank you to the New Plymouth District Council, Venture Taranaki and the local community for their support.”

Second to cross the 100km line was Wellington team Capitol Connections local, finishing in 17 hours and 26 minutes. Team Leader Dennis said that it was the team’s encouragement of each other that helped them get through the low points and push them to the end. 

In third position, Australian team Striders of Disfunction, who crossed the finish line at 17 hours 53 minutes.  

The first team to cross the 50km line was team Lost in Pace, in 9 hours 4 minutes. In second place, the Proclaimers who came in at 9 hours 32 minutes. And third placed was the Walking Westies who crossed the line at 9 hours 34 minutes.

Executive Director of Oxfam Aotearoa, Jason Myers said:

“The teams participating in Oxfam Trailwalker are taking part in something very special. The money raised will go towards Oxfam’s vision of a just, inclusive, sustainable world for everyone, now and for future generations. This means supporting communities to prepare for and survive the immediate threat of disaster. It means helping people rebuild with strength and security – so they can ultimately thrive in the future.

“Oxfam confronts the root causes that keep people poor, and makes sure those on the frontlines of the climate crisis have what they need to adapt. We stand with all those facing inequality and discrimination to make sure that everyone has equal rights and opportunities, and that economies work for all, not some. I can speak from personal experience when I say that this is a life-changing challenge, and every step is worth it.”

Once the teams have recuperated and recovered, teams will continue to fundraise until the cut-off of 1 May 2023.

As of today, Oxfam Trailwalker has so far raised $482,050. Donations to teams for Oxfam’s lifesaving work can be made at oxfamtrailwalker.org.nz

Oxfam and partners mounting a humanitarian response to help people affected by cyclone in Malawi and Mozambique

More than 80 people including women and children have been killed in Mozambique, Malawi and Madagascar, and millions more urgently need clean water, shelter and food following Cyclone Freddy – the longest and strongest tropical storm on record in the Southern hemisphere – which has damaged thousands of homes, roads, and telecommunication infrastructures.  

Oxfam and partners are currently assessing the scale of devastation in order to mount a humanitarian response to provide clean water, sanitation and hygiene facilities, as well as emergency cash and food.  

“This is a double tragedy for the people of Malawi and Mozambique as this is happening at the time when the two countries are already battered by a cholera outbreak,” said Dailes Judge, Oxfam in Southern Africa Programme Director.  

Among the hardest hit areas are Quelimane district in Zambezia Province in Mozambique, and Blantyre City, Chikwawa, Thyolo, Phalombe and Nsanje districts in Malawi.  Collapsing infrastructure particularly in the remotest areas is slowing relief efforts. Oxfam is working in close cooperation with both governments. 

Cyclone Freddy made its first landfall on the eastern coast of Madagascar on February 21, 2023, and proceeded to hit Mozambique.  The climate crisis has made extreme weather including cyclones more severe and prolonged.

“The people that contribute the least drivers of climate change are once again paying the steepest price to climate change, including their own lives”, said Lynn Chiripamberi, Oxfam in Southern Africa Humanitarian Programme Lead.  

“A comprehensive humanitarian response is urgently needed to ensure those most impacted get immediate shelter, water and food. Equally important is for rich polluting nations to pay for the climate loss and damage of these countries,” added Judge.

Trailwalker has begun!

Oxfam Trailwalker 2023 kicked off early this morning with the first wave of participants stomping through the start line at TSB Stadium at 06:00am. Deputy Major David Bublitz welcomed in the first lot of teams well before the sun rise, and Oxfam’s fundraising director Ange Janse van Rensburg hyped the teams up before sending them on their way.

One team hit the first 16km check point at 07:47am – an incredible 1 hour and 47 minutes after kick off. The ambitious team has chosen to run the Oxfam Trailwalker, rather than walk it.

Over 860 participants are taking place this year, that’s a total of 137 teams with their support crew. Teams will walk 50km in under 18 hours or 100km in under 36 hours to raise funds for Oxfam’s vital work in the Pacific and beyond.

Oxfam Trailwalker
Oxfam Trailwalker
Oxfam Trailwalker