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Past emergencies

Oxfam Australia has decades of experience responding to emergencies around the world.You can help us respond to emergencies when they happen, by becoming an Emergency 365 regular donor.

Here’s a snapshot of some of our emergency work:

Cyclone Idai

In March 2019, Cyclone Idai hit southern Africa, devastating the lives of 2.6 million people. Entire villages were destroyed, including homes, livestock and valuable crops. Oxfam provided life-saving assistance to people who had lost everything in Malawi, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.

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Cyclone survivor Fatima is standing where her village used to be in Mozambique
Micas Mondlane/Oxfam Novib

Indonesia tsunami

In December 2018, a huge 7.4 magnitude earthquake and tsunami hit Sulawesi, Indonesia. Over the following months, Oxfam reached more than 100,000 people with clean water, hygiene kits and vital income support so communities could start to rebuild.

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An Indonesia earthquake survivor stands outside her collapsed home in the city of Palu. She has received an emergency shelter kit from Oxfam.
Photo: Irwan Firdaus/Oxfam

Cyclone Winston

Cyclone Winston was the largest cyclone to hit Fiji. The destruction left 250,000 people in urgent need of clean water. Many families were dependent on dirty and unprotected water sources. Oxfam worked with local partners to deliver clean water and to stop the threat of disease.

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Mere Liku (centre) with other women of the village of Nasiriti in Fiji are washing the dishes affter a community gathering. Oxfam is supporting them with soap, buckets and other sanitation tools to prevent the spread of diseases.
Photo: Alfredo Prado/OxfamAUS

El Niño Food Crisis

60 million people around the world face hunger and poverty this year and the next due to droughts, erratic rains and the onset of a powerful El Niño — the climate phenomenon that develops in the tropical Pacific and brings extreme weather to several regions of the world.

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Women in search of water in Hadigala district, Siti Zone, Somali Region. 8th July 2015. Photo: Poon Wai Nang/Oxfam

Ethiopia Drought

A devastating drought in Ethiopia has caused the worst food crisis there in 30 years, putting millions of people at risk of hunger and disease. It’s not too late to address the situation before it gets worse, but this requires urgent support and funding now to prevent a full-blown disaster.

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“We live by water, our cattle live by water. Without water we are no more,” — Buho Asowe Eye. Hariso IDP Center, Siti region, Ethiopia. Photo: Abiy Getahun/Oxfam

Cyclone Pam

Cyclone Pam, one of the worst cyclones ever seen in the Pacific region hit Vanuatu on 13 March 2015 causing widespread devastation. Oxfam teams responded immediately with life saving essentials such as clean water, shelter and hygiene kits. Oxfam teams are still working with the affected communities providing emergency relief and helping families to rebuild after losing everything. Please make a donation today to help the people of Vanuatu.

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Photo: Vlad Sohkin/OxfamAUS

Typhoon Haiyan

More than 6,300 people lost their lives and almost 4.1 million people were forced from their homes after Typhoon Haiyan devastated the coastal communities of The Philippines. Oxfam has reached more than 740,000 people with emergency relief.

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Earthquake in Haiti

A 7.0 earthquake hit the nation of Haiti on 12 January 2010. Oxfam is focussed on providing Haitians with the tools and assistance needed to rebuild their country. We also responded to the cholera outbreak that began in October 2010.

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East Africa food crisis

Last year, the Horn of Africa was devastated by its most serious drought in over 60 years. Affecting Northern Kenya, Somalia and southern Ethiopia, millions of people faced starvation in a food crisis that was worsened by conflict and rising food prices. Although the worst is over, the situation in these countries is still extremely serious. Oxfam continues to work with vulnerable communities, providing them with humanitarian aid and long-term development solutions.

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Nepal Earthquake

On 25 April 2015, a powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit Nepal killing nearly 9,000 people and leaving tens of thousands of people displaced. Oxfam responded with life-saving essentials — clean water, sanitation and emergency shelter.

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Photo: David Shields/OxfamPNG