Blogs

After the atrocities committed on October 7, 2023, Israel’s escalation in Gaza is the most brutal onslaught of violence carried out against Palestinians during the 57-year-long Israeli occupation. Before the latest escalation of violence, over 80% of the population in Gaza relied on some form of humanitarian aid for survival, and life in the Gaza Strip was characterised by the almost total restriction on travel and trade, and the absence of social safety nets and livelihood opportunities. However, life for the 2.3 million Palestinians trapped inside Gaza has turned into an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe.  

Gambella, in Western Ethiopia, has become a refuge for almost 400,000 people from South Sudan, fleeing their homes due to conflict, droughts and flooding. Among them, women and young children make up the majority. Join us on a journey through a day in the lives of the women living in Gambella. Delve into these stories of strength and resilience, despite the challenges of life in the camps

On 18 - 19 March, the EU, UN, EU countries, INGOs and partners will meet in Brussels to discuss and shape the humanitarian agenda. At this third edition of the European Humanitarian Forum, the implications of the current, most pressing humanitarian crises will be explored, focusing specifically on the humanitarian funding gap and on neglected crises worldwide. The Forum comes at a critical moment with staggering humanitarian needs and right before the June European Parliament elections.  

Dear chocolate lovers,                       Happy Valentine! I hope you get to spend this special day with your loved ones, celebrating the love with your favorite chocolates and other sweets. My name is Leticia A Yankey, a cocoa farmer from Ghana. I'm writing you this love letter, from Amsterdam where I'm attending the Amsterdam Cocoa Week from 6-11 February 2024.At this conference, I have the chance to meet with various stakeholders in…

The Global Refugee Forum (GRF) is a vital platform for systematizing commitments made by the international community under the framework of the Global Compact on Refugees to enable collective action to support the well-being of refugees and forcibly displaced people globally. It is vital that the outcomes of the 2nd GRF, to be held this week between 13-15 December, address the priorities of refugees and host communities living in major refugee-hosting countries.

It is the time of the year again, where festive decorations are filling the streets of the Netherlands. The joy of end of year celebrations can also be felt in Dutch supermarkets. Coming into December, all snacks, candies and chocolates are wrapped and shaped in colorful festive packaging. Since I moved to the Netherlands, I always followed the Dutch Sinterklaas culture of buying chocolate shaped letters to celebrate. But this year, I feel differently about the chocolates in front of me. This now reminds me of my trip to Ghana, back in September. Chocolate has a bitter aftertaste, somethings which leaves me very uncomfortable.

One hundred local food plants for improving nutrition is the title of the new book published by Oxfam, written by Gisella Cruz-Garcia, Konstantina Maria Togka, Hilton Mbozi and Bert Visser. This book will become the best friend for those who are keen to improve their nutrition, and help others to do that, with the consumption of local food plant biodiversity.

Due to the occupation and illegal blockade by the Israeli government, Palestinians have been living under insecurity and oppression for years. In recent days, violence has increased, resulting in many Palestinian as well as Israeli civilian casualties.

The mid-term review of the EU's 7-year budget, the Multi-annual Financial Framework (MFF), comes at a critical moment. In an era dubbed "perma-crisis," where humanitarian aid and development cooperation struggle against a cascading stream of constant crises, it's time for the European Commission to face reality. This review is an opportunity for the European Commission to give EU countries a frank appraisal of the financial resources needed to live up to the EU’s ambitions of being a global champion of human rights, poverty eradication, tackling inequality and climate action and a leader in crisis response. The EU countries must respond by allocating more funding so that the EU’s aspirational rhetoric doesn’t turn into empty promises.

On World Humanitarian Day 2023, Amalin Patnaik, Programme Coordinator at Oxfam in India, shares the lesser-known facets of humanitarian work and his journey of helping victims and families after the tragic train collision in Balasore, Odisha.