Iraq

UMCOR'S Response to Suffering in Iraq

20 March 2003

The United Methodist Committee on Relief is responding to current needs in Iraq through our partners, ACT International and Church World Service. UMCOR does not have a field office in the area, and does not intend to open one. We are monitoring closely the humanitarian preparations and discussions of our partners and are seconding a communications staff person to ACT to assist with relaying information from Jordan to us.

Donations to UMCOR will support the health program of Church World Service called "All our Children". This program supports the critical health care needs of Iraqi children by providing desperately needed items such as antibiotics, anaesthesia, IV solution kits, and methods for accessing clean drinking water. Implementation is through agencies like the Middle East Council of Churches, the Islamic Relief Agency, Norwegian Church Aid (which is the ecumenical relief agency for United Methodists in Norway) and Caritas.

The need for medical support is a real one. It has been reported by Diakonie Emergency Aid (DEA) of Germany that every third child born at the hospital in Basra (southern Iraq) is either physically disabled or severely ill. Estimates of the number of children who have died since sanctions were imposed on Iraq in 1991 run from 500,000 to 1 million.

United Methodists around the world are united in our prayers for peace. UMCOR will respond to additional humanitarian needs in Iraq when and if they develop using the highest standards of our Code of Conduct. We uphold the Statement by ACT International relating to humanitarian principles in the event of war.

If you are viewing this site from Europe, you can send donations to the EMK-Weltmission Germany at the bank EKK, account no. 401 773, sort code (BLZ) 60060606, swift code GENODEF1EK1.