FRANCAISTriangle Génération Humanitaire - History
1994-1999
-1994, France: Triangle is created by Christian Lombard and Patrick Verbruggen, two former members of an NGO from Lyon, EquiLibre. The word “Triangle” refers to three aspects of humanitarian action: urgency, rehabilitation and development. The project is conceived in reaction to the bureaucratisation of EquiLibre, which goes bankrupt in 1998.
-1995, Rwanda: Triangle is expelled by the government of the Rwandese Patriotic Front as the association is unable to fund the programmes forecast.
-Since February 1998, Yemen: Triangle provides relief to Somali refugees in al-Gahin camp, north-east of Aden. In 2001, under pressure from the authorities, Triangle helps to transfer those same refugees to a new site, as awful and inappropriate as the first one.
-Since August 1998, North Korea: without being really able to control the use of its agricultural supplies in the cooperative farms, Triangle runs rural development programmes, for which almost one fifth of its budget in 2001 is dedicated. While other NGOs withdraw for lack of free access to the people in need, Triangle strengthens its presence from November 2000. One of the programmes, conducted under the supervision of North Korean soldiers in Southern Hwangae province, consists in rehabilitating the polders of a military zone in order to increase the area suitable for cultivation, which is invaded by the sea. In February 2003, Triangle threatens to stop its activities when 500 tons of cement are stolen, and then given back.
