2013 was a year framed by two French military
inventions, one in Mali and the other in the
Central African Republic. A year characterised
by a frightening and unrelenting deterioration in
the humanitarian situation in Syria. A year also
marked by the typhoon which hit the Visayas in
the Philippines, reminding us that climate disasters
could become a defining feature of this century.
The year also saw the death of Nelson Mandela,
who said: “What is done for us, without us, is
against us”. As a tribute to him, his words must
become the basis for our actions and guide our
programmes for the health and rights of the poor,
in France and in the world.
