Syria crisis

This briefing sets out Oxfam’s challenge to world leaders who fail to resolve conflicts, permit warring parties to ignore International Humanitarian Law, and do everything possible to keep the world’s refugees and displaced people from their doors.

Oxfam and other agencies say that the international community must agree a bold new deal for Syria’s refugees if it is serious about tackling the largest humanitarian crisis since World War II. The new deal must provide more investment in Syria’s neighbours, which host more than 4 million refugees, and an end to restrictions that prevent refugees from working and in some cases living legally in these countries. 

The story of a Syrian refugee who begins a new life in Jordan’s Zaatari camp fixing mobile phones and helps fellow refugees print off photos of happier times is the focus of an upcoming documentary film which will be previewed to mark World Refugee Day (June 20th) as part of a joint campaign by Oxfam and the European Commission’s Office for Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection Department (ECHO).

Oxfam has calculated that nearly half of the world’s top donors didn’t give their fair share of aid to the Syria crisis in 2014, based on the size of their economies.

More than 65 per cent of refugees surveyed by Oxfam fear they may not be able to go back to Syria despite desperately wanting to return. There is an urgent need for Geneva peace process to be kick-started as well as improved response from donor countries to UN’s humanitarian appeal.

The Geneva II Conference, which opens today, must deliver real change in the lives of ordinary Syrians. Worldwide development organization Oxfam calls for increased participation of women and civil society organizations in peace process.

The UN announced that up to 100,000 have died as a result of the Syria crisis. 

Sending more arms to Syria will only increase the bloodshed, says Oxfam