ACF International Network
water_drink.jpg
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.
water_pump.jpg
Central to the targeting of malnutrition, Action Against Hunger extends water and sanitation improvements to communities with little or no access to proper sources.
foodsec_berries.jpg
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.
foodsec_pond.jpg
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.
foodsec_field.jpg
Action Against Hunger’s innovative food security programs offer a broad range of solutions for generating income, boosting food production, and strengthening livelihoods.
water_hose.jpg
Our comprehensive approach to hunger involves extending water and sanitation services to communities faced with water scarcity, unsafe drinking water, and inadequate sanitation.
nutr_heal2.jpg
Action Against Hunger occupies a unique place among international organizations: our expertise encompasses emergency relief, longer-term development, and the terrain in between.
nutr_smile.jpg
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.
nutr_aaa.jpg
Action Against Hunger helps rehabilitate and restock public health infrastructure, fields mobile health clinics, and trains local medical personnel on preventative and diagnostic care.
nutr_nurse.jpg
Our comprehensive programs address the linkages between disease and malnutrition by coordinating with local expertise and strengthening existing public health systems.
ACF International Map
Where We Work

Gaza: Urgent Need for Water and Food
July 11, 2006

The destruction of energy infrastructure has reduced the water supply during the hottest months of the year. The closing of Kerni hinders the delivery of humanitarian assistance and leaves markets without rice, sugar, flour and cooking oil.

"Access to drinking water is difficult: we only have 43% of electricity supply and numerous water pumps are no longer working," explains Hossam Almadhoun, Action Against Hunger's Head of Base in Gaza. More than 140 pumps depend on electricity supply. The closure of the Gaza strip means that alternative fuel cannot be provided - in any case, municipalities would not be able to pay for it. "People are looking for alternative means of water storage and are limiting their use of water. In towns, there is an increasing lack of hygiene and in rural areas, water points are ever more far away," says Hossam. The reduction in electricity supply also affects refrigerators and therefore the conservation of fresh food during the hottest period of the year.

Basic goods are beginning to be scarce on local markets. "Already people have no oil to cook with and are cutting wood," comments Hossam. Since the middle of June, fishing is prohibited and 160.000 people working for the administration have not received their salaries. The closure of the Eretz check point prevents 1,000 employees getting to their workplaces in Israel. "Already affected by economic collapse, families living close to the Israeli border in northern and eastern Gaza are suffering most," says Hossam.

Despite the closure of the borders, humanitarian organisations have provided some medicines to hospitals. However, markets need to be replenished and electricity supply to water pumps guaranteed in order to prevent the situation from becoming insupportable for the most vulnerable people. Food reserves such as flour, rice, sugar, oil and vegetables will run out within the coming days.

"Hopes among the population after the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza 10 months ago have disintegrated. People are nervous and there is panic," our staff in Gaza tells us.

Action Against Hunger supports the petition signed by the International Association of Development Agencies, a group of 70 humanitarian agencies working in the Palestinian Territories, calling for action by the international community to mitigate the crisis, for the opening of the border to bring supply to markets and the movement of workers.

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