Press Release for 2008

Paris, France — The humanitarian organization Action Against Hunger / Action Contre la Faim (ACF) released a report detailing the devastating impact of rising food prices in Monrovia, Liberia wh

Nili, Afghanistan — Two humanitarian aid workers for Action Against Hunger / Action Contre la Faim (ACF) were abducted Friday, July 18th at 1AM (local time). The kidnapping took place in the compound where the ACF team was sleeping. According to ACF knowledge, the two expatriates are alive.

Madrid, Spain — Over the next two months, Action Against Hunger / Action Contre la Faim (ACF) will provide drinking water to 15,000 people in several provinces in Mindanao, which is the southernmost island of the country, and distribute food to 7,500 others on the islands, as well as in the centre of the country, at Corcuera and Banton.

Tokyo, Japan — Members of the “Group of Eight” (G8)—Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the UK, and the US—have recently announced the creation of a working group to address the global food crisis, a tentative sign of hope for the nearly 860 million people faced with hunger around the world. The challenge, however, is immense: behind the current food crisis looms the threat of a broader humanitarian emergency that could push already vulnerable populations closer to starvation. Action Against Hunger / Action Contre la Faim (ACF), CARE International, and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) call on the G8 member states to launch the creation of a Global Fund to fight hunger and malnutrition.

New York, NY —

To properly address the global emergency in food and oil prices, Action Against Hunger would encourage the G8 to take the following measures:

Muttur, Sri Lanka — On August 4, 2006, 17 members of Action Against Hunger / Action Contre la Faim (ACF) were brutally executed while carrying out humanitarian programs in Muttur, Sri Lanka—the most heinous crime ever committed against a non-governmental organization. Following these atrocities, several legal proceedings were initiated in Sri Lanka, but today, after nearly two years of effort, ACF is forced to recognize the failure of these procedures and the blatant lack of will of the Sri Lankan government to establish the truth.

Paris, France — On Wednesday, June 4, the government of Zimbabwe sent a letter to all NGOs suspending their involvement on the ground until further notice. This decision by local authorities is of extremely high concern for the millions of Zimbabweans who depend on assistance from NGOs. The immediate impact of these humanitarian aid organizations on health and water, particularly for vulnerable populations and AIDS patients, adds the medium-term food security of the population. The weeks ahead are indeed crucial for the preparation of the season and the suspension of NGO activities will result in an irreversible delay.

New York, NY — Executive Chef and Culinary Editor of The Gilded Fork, Mark C. Tafoya, features Action Against Hunger and the 2008 Restaurants Against Hunger Campaign on his podcast show, The ReMARKable Palate.

New York, NY — The Somali population is trapped between harsh basic conditions and increasing insecurity. Hundreds of thousands of people rely on foreign aid to survive. But security threats against humanitarian workers are increasing to dangerous levels which may hamper vital assistance.

Yangon, Myanmar — While continuing to distribute aid supplies to the survivors of Cyclone Nargis, Action Against Hunger / Action Contre la Faim (ACF) teams in Myanmar have also carried out a needs assessment in the Bogalay region, one of the worst hit areas. The survey, which was carried out last week, found that the situation in the Bogalay district is extremely alarming, both in the immediate and medium term.

Yangon, Myanmar — The international humanitarian organization Action Against Hunger / Action Contre la Faim (ACF) has reinforced its efforts in Myanmar with additional shipments of relief materials and emergency response personnel.

Yangon, Myanmar — Five days after Cyclone Nargis slammed into Myanmar’s southern delta the human toll continues to climb while conditions deteriorate dramatically on the ground. The international humanitarian organization Action Against Hunger / Action Contre la Faim (ACF) has responded by sending a convoy from Yangon loaded with emergency equipment and materials for Bogalay after surveys indicated massive needs in the area.

Yangon, Myanmar — Cyclone Nargis, which struck southern Myanmar on May 2nd, has had a devastating effect on the country. Estimates suggest that more than 32,000 people have died and hundreds of thousands more have been affected by the catastrophe.

Yangon, Myanmar — Category three Cyclone Nargis struck Myanmar on Saturday May 2nd in the Ayeyarwaddy Delta region before making its way to Myanmar’s capital, Yangon.

New York, NY — Action Against Hunger USA, part of the international humanitarian organization Action Contre la Faim, is pleased to announce its inaugural Race Against Hunger designed to raise awareness about global malnutrition among middle school students in the United States.

Paris, France — The phenomenon of rising food prices is witnessed by Action Against Hunger / Action Contre la Faim (ACF) in many countries in which it operates (Haiti, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Burkina Faso, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Philippines, Ethiopia, Somalia…). In response, the association calls for concrete action through the urgent creation of a global fund to fight against hunger and malnutrition so that finally the foremost cause of death on the planet can be ameliorated.

Paris, France — Even as the Sri Lankan organization University Teachers for Human Rights (UTHR) publishes its report on an investigation into the savage 2006 assassination of 17 Action Against Hunger / Action Contre la Faim (ACF) aid workers in Muttur, ACF is calling for an international inquiry to fully investigate these murders to reveal the whole truth and bring those responsible to justice.

Boston, MA — On February 22, 2008, Nan Dale, Executive Director of Action Against Hunger – USA, accepted the Dr. Jean Mayer Global Citizenship Award at the 23rd EPIIC Symposium on Global Poverty and Inequality.

New York, NY — Food prices have risen dramatically around the world in recent months, fueling widespread concern and social unrest in communities confronted with devastating price increases when buying provisions. Exactly what accounts for this wild upswing in market prices and what do these trends hold for those already living in precarious conditions?

Mandera, Kenya — Action Against Hunger / Action Contre la Faim (ACF) has renewed its commitment to increasing local access to latrines and safe water in Mandera, Kenya as the world community marks the International Year of Sanitation and World Water Day this March 22nd.

Monrovia, Liberia — In Liberia since 1990, Action Against Hunger / Action Contre la Faim’s (ACF) latest round of nutritional surveys shows extremely disturbing results that indicate a significant nutritional crisis in Grand Monrovia: of the 800 children weighed, measured, and examined, 17.6% (Z-score) suffer from acute malnutrition.

Madrid, Spain — The phenomenon known as La Niña has left 20 dead in Ecuador, 61 in Bolivia and 13 in Peru, according to government sources in those countries. For several weeks Action Against Hunger / Action Contre la Faim (ACF) has been working in the Santa Cruz department of Bolivia helping flood victims.

Madrid, Spain — The phenomenon known as La Niña has left 20 dead in Ecuador, 61 in Bolivia and 13 in Peru, according to government sources in those countries. Action Against Hunger / Action Contre la Faim (ACF) has been working in the Santa Cruz department of Bolivia helping flood victims.

Paris, France — Uncertainty is the only current outcome given the ongoing military confrontation in Chad. The humanitarian situation was dire before fighting erupted last week, but Action Against Hunger / Action Contre la Faim (ACF) is concerned the crisis will deteriorate further in N’Djamena and in the sprawling camps for refugees and internally displaced peoples in the east.

Madrid, Spain — Action Against Hunger / Action Contre la Faim (ACF) and the World Food Programme (WFP) are working to distribute food to inhabitants of La Mojana, one of the most seriously affected regions in last year’s floods, and where 7 out of 10 households live below the poverty line.

Paris, France — Three weeks after the attack against an Action Against Hunger (ACF) vehicle at the end of December, which killed French aid worker Agnes Dury and seriously injured another aid worker, ACF has decided to suspend its programmes in Burundi.

Madrid, Spain — With international attention recently focused on Gaza, desperation in the West Bank is often overlooked. Shepherding communities living in zone C in Tubas district (under Israeli control) are facing freezing temperatures and an extended period of drought with limited resources.

Paris, France — Three weeks after the attack against an Action Against Hunger / Action Contre la Faim (ACF) vehicle at the end of December, killing French aid worker Agnes Dury and seriously injuring another aid worker, ACF has decided to suspend its programs in Burundi.

Nairobi, Kenya — The International aid group Action Against Hunger has expanded its emergency operations in Kenya, launching programs in Nairobi and strengthening activities in Nakuru and Molo.

Nakuru, Kenya — In the aftermath of the disputed presidential election, as many as 30,000 Kenyans have streamed into this provincial capital located just 2 hours (150 km) north of Nairobi.

Paris, France — On Monday, December 31st, 2007, a car belonging to the international humanitarian organization Action Against Hunger / Action Contre La Faim (ACF) was targeted by gunmen on a street in Ruyigi, ea

Ruyigi, Burundi — On Monday, December 31 2007, at 6:30 pm, an Action Against Hunger vehicle was targeted by shooters in the city of Ruyigi in the East of Burundi.