Press Release for 2008

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.

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 — 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.

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.

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.

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.