ACF International Network
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Action Against Hunger has developed its water and sanitation expertise over nearly three decades of field work, advancing a number of solutions for populations at risk from water insecurity.
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Central to the targeting of malnutrition, Action Against Hunger extends water and sanitation improvements to communities with little or no access to proper sources.
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Action Against Hunger's programs are sustainable because of our commitment to community participation—to build local capacity and harnesses a population's energy and resources.
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Though strategies may vary, our food security interventions all share a common goal: to fight hunger by preserving and strengthening livelihoods in a sustainable and contextual manner.
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Action Against Hunger’s innovative food security programs offer a broad range of solutions for generating income, boosting food production, and strengthening livelihoods.
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Our comprehensive approach to hunger involves extending water and sanitation services to communities faced with water scarcity, unsafe drinking water, and inadequate sanitation.
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Action Against Hunger occupies a unique place among international organizations: our expertise encompasses emergency relief, longer-term development, and the terrain in between.
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We have developed an effective method to treat acute malnutrition that includes field-tested protocols and nutritional products backed by an international scientific advisory committee.
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Action Against Hunger helps rehabilitate and restock public health infrastructure, fields mobile health clinics, and trains local medical personnel on preventative and diagnostic care.
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Our comprehensive programs address the linkages between disease and malnutrition by coordinating with local expertise and strengthening existing public health systems.
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Where We Work

Haiti must not sink into the abyss again
April 29, 2004

Since President Jean-Bertrand Aristide was forced to depart, two months ago, the humanitarian situation in Haiti has been precarious at best. Action Against Hunger warns that it is absolutely essential to provide long-term humanitarian aid to the Haitian population.

The island nation of Haiti is not front-page news at present, but there is a hidden crisis that is affecting most of the population and has been for many years. Moreover, this crisis is far from being resolved following President Aristide's departure, and introduction of international peacekeeping forces. The situation is much worse than before President Aristide's resignation.

The island nation of Haiti is not front-page news at present, but there is a hidden crisis that is affecting most of the population and has been for many years. Moreover, this crisis is far from being resolved following President Aristide's departure, and introduction of international peacekeeping forces. The situation is much worse than before President Aristide's resignation.

Emergency intervention is needed

Following Haiti's severe political crisis earlier this year the international community and certain private fund providers temporarily offered support. Thanks to the assistance of these private donors as well as contributors such as the European Union, the Canadian government and the British government, Action Against Hunger has been able to intervene on an emergency basis:

For example:

  • Gonaives, In April Action Against Hunger launched a program of 10 canteens aimed at preventing acute malnutrition through distribution of gruel to 10,000 children.
  • Port de Paix, in the North of the country, Action Against Hunger supplied potable water to the local population via containers. We are also rehabilitating the water distribution networks.

However, above all, support for humanitarian action in Haiti must be maintained long term across the board and not just ad hoc.

The people of Haiti need much more than a temporary show of interest. The country is simply lacking in everything: basic healthcare, education, urban infrastructure etc. The country's bitter civil war left its mark even before this year's presidential crisis. In order to address long term needs Action Against Hunger is conducting food surveys in the country in order to understand and address chronic malnutrition. Action Against Hunger is also running programs that are aimed to rehabilitate hydraulic networks in the North of the country. Action Against Hunger is implementing many programs to assist the Haitian people in the short term. But the aim must be set on the long term.

The stabilization of Haiti's political institutions is obviously critical, but the point is that it will only be possible to bring Haiti closer to autonomy if the international community and the private donors continue to extend their vital cooperation for long term humanitarian needs and assistance...

A general mobilization is required in order to prevent Haiti from sinking again into the abyss.

About Action Against Hunger

Action Against Hunger / Action Contre la Faim (ACF), an international relief and development organization committed to saving the lives of malnourished children and families, provides sustainable access to safe water and long-term solutions to hunger. For nearly three decades, ACF has pursued its vision of a world without hunger by combating hunger in emergency situations of conflict, natural disaster, and chronic food insecurity.

Press Contact

Action Against Hunger - USA

James L. Phelan
Senior External Relations Officer, ACF-USA
Contact James Phelan
Direct: 212-967-7800 x108
Cell: 646-265-7796