The founder and honorary president of Samu social, Xavier Emmanuelli, died this Sunday, at the age of 87. According to the organization, he died after a “probably heart attack”. Also co-founder of Médecins sans frontières – an organization which received the Nobel Peace Prize – Xavier Emmanuelli created the Samu social de Paris in 1993 which, among other things, helps homeless people and those in great precariousness and directs them to a place of accommodation. He then created Samu social international in 1998.
Former Secretary of State for Emergency Humanitarian Action (1995-1997), trained anesthetist-resuscitator, Xavier Emmanuelli “marked the history of solidarity in France and in the world”, underlines the Samu social international in a press release. The organization paid “tribute to this exceptional personality for his unfailing commitment to the association which he chaired for more than 25 years and whose battles he fought for”.
“We are in pain”
On Sunday, Xavier Emmanuelli “had a heart attack” and his life “came to an abrupt end”, said the president of Samu social international, Jacques Carles. “Today we are in pain,” he added.