Mr. Francis Hammond T.

"Afghan families -starving, weak and desperate -have been leaving their homes with meager possessions and heading to places like Kabul and Herat, in search of food," says Francis Hammond, IRC's regional director of Afghanistan and Pakistan."Now, facing a U.S. military campaign and the closure of borders by neighboring countries, they don't know where to go.They're stranded where they are, in danger of dying from malnutrition and disease, and have little hope of finding humanitarian aid."

The IRC is urging the development of humanitarian corridors to ensure that lifesaving assistance can reach those who need it most."Borders need to be opened and safe and secure humanitarian corridors established so that aid organizations like the IRC can effectively provide assistance to the most vulnerable people," says Hammond.

"Afghan families -starving, weak and desperate -have been leaving their homes with meager possessions and heading to places like Kabul and Herat, in search of food," says Francis Hammond, IRC's regional director of Afghanistan and Pakistan."Now, facing a U.S. military campaign and the closure of borders by neighboring countries, they don't know where to go.They're stranded where they are, in danger of dying from malnutrition and disease, and have little hope of finding humanitarian aid."

The IRC is urging the development of humanitarian corridors to ensure that lifesaving assistance can reach those who need it most."Borders need to be opened and safe and secure humanitarian corridors established so that aid organizations like the IRC can effectively provide assistance to the most vulnerable people," says Hammond."Afghanistan needs a large-scale international humanitarian campaign and those who deliver humanitarian aid must have unhindered access - in order to deliver structured assistance to all populations in need.That's what's going to save lives."

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Mr. Francis HammondCountry Representative

Africare/Liberia Country Representative Francis Hammond examines vandalized farm equipment.

Francis Hammond,

Acting Country Representative

Francis Hammond Country Director, Sri Lanka
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Francis Hammond, Country Director, Sri LankaAs Country Director, Francis is in charge of coordinating tsunami-related efforts in Sri Lanka.Prior to joining AmeriCares, Francis spent more than 10 years working in international humanitarian aid.He has served as an expert consultant with Africare in Ivory Coast, Mali, and Liberia, and with the American Refugee Committee Kuwait and Iraq.He has also led field operations as a Country Director for the International Rescue Committee and the United States Peace Corps in Burundi, Gabon, Sao Tome, Senegal and Botswana.Francis received his Master's degree from Tufts Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and his Bachelor's degree from Montclair State University.He was also the recipient of the 2003 Louis Braille Award "In Honor of His Outstanding Leadership in Providing Emergency Relief to the Victims of War in Iraq."

"Afghan families â€"starving, weak and desperate â€"have been leaving their homes with meager possessions and heading to places like Kabul and Herat, in search of food," says Francis Hammond, IRC's Asia regional director."Now, facing a U.S. military campaign and the closure of borders by neighboring countries, they don't know where to go.They're stranded where they are, in danger of dying from malnutrition and disease, and have little hope of finding humanitarian aid."

The IRC is urging the development of humanitarian corridors to ensure that lifesaving assistance can reach those who need it most."Borders need to be opened and safe and secure humanitarian corridors established so that aid organizations like the IRC can effectively provide assistance to the most vulnerable people," says Hammond.

"Afghan families ,starving, weak and desperate ,have been leaving their homes with meager possessions and heading to places like Kabul and Herat, in search of food," says Francis Hammond, IRC's Asia regional director."Now, facing a U.S. military campaign and the closure of borders by neighboring countries, they don't know where to go.They're stranded where they are, in danger of dying from malnutrition and disease, and have little hope of finding humanitarian aid."

The IRC is urging the development of humanitarian corridors to ensure that lifesaving assistance can reach those who need it most."Borders need to be opened and safe and secure humanitarian corridors established so that aid organizations like the IRC can effectively provide assistance to the most vulnerable people," says Hammond.

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Francis Hammond, Americare's director of operations in Sri Lanka, talks to Liane Hansen about the situation in Sri Lanka six months after the tsunami ravaged the island nation.