Action Corps NYC members participated in a media stunt outside of the UNGA, on behalf of Oxfam's call Syrian peace negotiations. Read on for more details from the event, as well as more information on Oxfam America's involvement in relief efforts for the Syrian refugee crisis.
Originally posted at http://www.oxfamactioncorpsnyc.org/2013/09/artistic-oxfam-appeal-for-syrian-peace.html
In New York City, the 68th United Nations General Assembly is currently underway. Global heads of states have gathered in an annual meeting which presents an opportunity for leaders from around the world to speak on behalf of their countries on the international world stage. With the United Nations as the host, there will be a particular focus on humanitarian aid and refugee relief efforts.
In Syria, an uprising against four decades of rule by the Assad family culminated into civil war that has lead to over 100,000 deaths and resulted in displacement for nearly one third of Syria’s population. The gathering of world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly provided Oxfam America with an opportune moment to undertake ongoing efforts in highlighting the crisis in Syria with the aim of stressing the urgency of Syrian peace talks.
Oxfam America appealed for Syrian Peace negotiations with the assistance of renowned Argentinian/Spanish 3D street artist, Eduardo Relero. Eduardo’s signature artwork enhanced by optical illusion has adorned streets around the globe. On this occasion, a large-scale painting portraying President Obama and President Putin in the midst of discussions was on display for several hours during the morning of Sept 25th at the Dag Hammarskjold Plaza.
The colossal painting is a particularly striking presentation depicting President Obama deep in thought while a map of various regions of Syria serves as a table as well as a barrier between the two Presidents in symbolic gesture. Both presidents are surrounded by fenced in refugees, composed primarily of women and children uprooted from their homes anxiously awaiting news of developments that will impact their lives.
Oxfam America staff, volunteers and media were available in full force on the scene in order to coordinate and speak to reporters about the event, provide support, and live tweet to amplify the message of the critical urgency for imminent peace negotiations in Syria.
Oxfam staff attendees included Oxfam America President, Raymond Offenheiser, Sue Rooks, working in Communications, Advocacy, Finance with Oxfam America, Media & Public Relations Director, Matt Herrick, Oxfam International Media Lead (Humanitarian), Louis Belanger as well as Oxfam America Regional Advocacy Lead, Will Fenton.
Volunteers who participated in making the day a success included NYC’s Oxfam Action Corps NYC’s current co-leader Elizabeth Norman, brand new NYC transplant and Oxfam volunteer from Grenada, Jennifer Viechweg as well as Sinead Kennedy who was instrumental in photographing and publicizing the event. Additionally, this event was an ideal opportunity for Oxfam staff from various offices and NYC Action Corps volunteers to be able to work in conjunction in person in joint effort to promote humanitarian relief.
The refugee crisis in Syria is unparallelled in recent times as the UN refugee agency, UNHCR figures state two million Syrians have fled from the escalating conflict, of which one million are children. Additionally, internal displacement figures are estimated to be at approximately 4.25 million. The Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan, within eight miles from the border of Syria is currently home to over 120,000 refugees and has been declared to be the second largest refugee camp in the world. With 2,000 new residents arriving each day at Zaatari, a second refugee camp, Azraq is undergoing construction, also with a capacity of 130,000.
However, only a small number of refugees are housed in the camps, the majority are scattered across various host nations. The countries in descending order of registered refugees are Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, Iraq and Egypt. The influx has placed great strain on the recipient countries, several of which themselves suffer from instability and poor economies. A startling statistic that illustrates the scale and plight of the refugee crisis was recently released by Dana Sleiman, Public Information Officer for UNHCR in Beirut, Lebanon which stated that as school starts this week in Lebanon, it is expected that 330,000 Syrian refugee children will need to enroll in school in comparison with 300,000 Lebanese.
By: Shireen Alam
Photography by: Fernando Olivas/Oxfam
In honor of this year's World Food Day, the Action Corps in Boston hosted a film screening of Land Rush. Land Rush was one of eight films in the Why Poverty?documentary series, which won a Peabody Award this year for Excellence in Journalism. Over 50 attendees gathered to learn more about global land grabs and their connection to sugar production. You might think hunger is about too many people and too little food, but this isn’t the case. Hunger is about power. Its roots lie in inequalities in access to resources, like fertile land and water. The power to control these resources doesn't sit with the billion-plus farmers who produce food. Instead, companies and governments control the global food system—and they often determine who eats and who doesn’t.
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