FRANCAISAction Contre la Faim - History
2000-2009
-From April 2000, Philippines: in the province of Maguindanao, ACF-Spain begins to help the populations displaced by the conflict between the army and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. The ever-growing violence compels the organisation to suspend its programmes in March 2003.
-March 2002, France: elected in June 2001, the president of ACF-France, Sylvie Brunel, resigns in protest against the commercial drift in the association. She is replaced by Jacques Serba then Jean-Christophe Rufin in January 2003.
-2003-2004, Iraq: ACF condemns the military intervention of the Coalition forces and states its concern regarding the dispositions taken by the American Army, which wants to control humanitarian aid during its war against Baghdad. In a joint press release with MDM, PU, EMDH, HI and Solidarités on the 3rd of March 2003, the organisation proclaims its “refusal to subordinate its action to a military authority which is party to the conflict”. After the US troops land in Baghdad and capture Saddam Hussein, security does not improve and the Coalition does not prevent attacks against humanitarian personnel. As it considers that there are no severe nutritional need in Iraq, ACF evacuates expatriate staff and decides in March 2004 to gradually pull out.
-August 2003, Burundi: on the 11th of August 2003, ACF evacuates temporarily the north-western Kayanza province two days after twenty odd armed robbers attacked its premises in order to steal vehicles and equipment. In 1995, already, the organisation had had to put a halt to its operations in the country following a grenade attack.
-2004, Uganda: while the conflict between the government and the rebels of the LRA (Lord’s Resistance Army) escalate in the North, ACF-USA informs against the difficulties to deliver relief in the camps for internally displaced persons around Gulu, which require military escort 60% of the time. According to the organisation, many camps in Lira and Kitgum districts simply cannot be reached due to insecurity.
-2005, Indonesia: ACF helps the victims of the tsunami and uses helicopters of the French Army to bring relief to villagers isolated by the tidal wave.
