Category: Blogs

Robin Narciso, an Oxfam volunteer in Phnom Penh, shares his experiences at the Water, Food and Energy forum in Hanoi: “Perhaps more sadly, was the fact resettling communities seemed to be an inevitable action. Many discussed how to ensure that communities are properly compensated when relocated, not how to ensure that communities can choose whether to keep living on their native land or not.” Read more »

By Robin Narciso, Oxfam Communications and Information Officer, Phnom Penh. One of the great things of the Third Mekong Forum on Water, Food and Energy, was a space called the ‘Knowledge Reservoir’, where all the organisations supported by Challenge Program Water and Food (CPWF) showcased their projects in interactive and creative ways. Here I have decided to […] Read more »

Talking about gender is never easy and it’s even harder when you’re talking about it in relation to hydropower infrastructure. As it is, hydropower can be a sensitive topic; once you add the gender nexus you have an explosive mix. Read more »

The Oxfam rapid assessment team flew into Samar, the first place to be hit by Typhoon Haiyan. Here are some photos of the scenes they saw, and the Oxfam team’s preparation to respond. Read more »

There are still body bags beside the road, and as the clean up continues the bodies are still being discovered. There is so much to do, so it is important for Oxfam that we concentrate on what we do best, and what is needed at this early stage of the recovery. Read more »

It was heartening to see a further distribution of much needed aid in the Daanbantayan area yesterday and to have another opportunity to talk with people from the villages. People were very grateful for access to further hygiene kits and water containers so that water can be purified for drinking. Read more »

As we came closer to the area where the typhoon had made its impact, things began to change. There were trees uprooted, electricity poles tipping perilously at an angle, through front yards of small houses, sugar cane crops looking like untidy haircuts and coconut trees snapped off at the half way mark. Read more »

I have just finished my first day in Cebu, spending it with the Oxfam team on the ground. We need fuel, volunteers and transport. You know from news reports that some areas are much harder to access than others. Read more »

Whilst the full response to this Typhoon will take some time, the initial phase lasting approximately six weeks will be critical for the affected communities. In the first six weeks we aim to reach at least 100,000 people (20,000 families) with emergency relief. Read more »

New reports from Oxfam’s rapid assessment team in Tacloban, one of the hardest hit provinces of Leyte, confirm 100 per cent of the city is devastated. Read more »