Conflict and natural disasters

Magda is from Darfur, Sudan, and is one of millions people who flee their homes every year because of conflict and natural disaster.

Now facing even deeper poverty, she’s also one of millions getting Oxfam’s support.

When disaster strikes...

Every year, more than 35 million people have to abandon their homes as a result of war, crime, political unrest, and natural disaster. Many lose everything they own.

And it’s the world’s poorest people are hit hardest:

• Poor countries are four times as likely as rich ones to experience major conflicts – around 30 are going on right now.
• There were 8.4 million refugees in 2005. Most were from – and were hosted in – the developing world.
• Natural disasters are now five times more common than they were 30 years ago.

Poor means vulnerable

Conflict and disaster can hit anyone, rich or poor.

But people living in poverty are most vulnerable to events like these, and find it hardest to recover. Many face ruined livelihoods, broken families and poor health as they attempt to rebuild lives with few resources.

Why do poor communities suffer so many disasters?

There are lots of reasons why poor communities suffer more from natural catastrophes.

They’re often forced to settle and build on land prone to flooding, storms and landslides, for instance. In circumstances like these, natural events, like heavy rain, can become a full-blown crisis – especially when people lack the things they need to cope in the aftermath.

And unless action is taken now, climate change will lead to even more disasters triggered by events like droughts and flooding. Many communities are already seeing big changes, and are working hard to adapt.

Oxfam in emergencies

People need help fast when war or disaster cause them to lose their homes.

Oxfam has a long record of saving lives in a crisis, and is widely recognised as an expert in public health in emergencies.

After the Tsunami in December 2004, for instance – in which hundreds of thousands of people lost everything – we helped prevent even greater loss of life, providing clean drinking water, temporary shelter and toilets.

Since then, we’ve helped people get back on their feet, funding things like house-building and support for small businesses.

And in 2007 – during a conflict which has displaced millions – Oxfam has helped more than 500,000 people in Darfur, Sudan, with clean, safe water, and sanitation. We’ve also tried to keep people safe from further harm, as we do in all emergencies.

Pushing for action

But our work doesn’t stop there. Oxfam lobbies governments and bodies like the UN too, influencing international responses to conflicts and disasters – for example, by raising funds for relief work and pressing for swifter aid.

We also campaign to curb the supply of arms fuelling violence. Along with allies like Amnesty International and IANSA, we call for strict controls on the global trade in small arms, through the Control Arms campaign.

This campaign realised a key goal in 2006, when world governments voted to develop an Arms Trade Treaty.

Oxfam is now working to ensure the Treaty is an effective one.

Learn more

• Conflict and natural disasters in depth
• Oxfam's Control Arms campaign