Iraqi Refugee Crisis Worsens Day by Day

Thursday, August 2, A.D. 2007

Each day another 2000 people flee the war, lawlessness and growing political and economic chaos in Iraq. According to the UN's High Commissioner for Refugees, some 4.5 million people have fled to other parts of the country or sought refuge in nearby nations, including 1.4 million who have fled to Syria and 750,000 to Jordan. Whether inside or outside Iraq, the vast majority face "dire conditions", including few work opportunities; limited or no access to social services, health care, and water and sanitation; and rapidly rising prices for shelter, food and other basic necessities.

Church World Service and Action by Churches Together have just issued a major appeal to their members to respond to this growing humanitarian crisis both inside Iraq and in neighboring countries. A brief summary of the appeal includes:

> support of a major food parcel and hygiene kit distribution project through International Orthodox Christian Charities to nearly 3,000 Iraqi families in Iraq and Syria;

> support of a Norwegian Church Aid program to provide psychosocial care to youth in three youth centers in Baghdad and Basra and implement a water filtration project that will benefit some 200,000 people in Basra;

> a food parcel, medicine and clothes distribution project with the Middle East Council of Churches and its network of local churches in Jordan and Syria;

> initiatives with local Iraqi non-governmental organizations (unnamed here for security reasons) to provide medicines and medical equipment to Iraqi hospitals; provide food parcels, school and hygiene kits to children; equip school libraries, and develop conflict mitigation programs and other community-based projects.

Week of Compassion has provided an initial grant of $14,000 toward the CWS/ACT appeal and is working on a second grant of $10,000 to secure 28 medicine boxes from IMA-WH (International Medical Assistance ñ World Health) that are a critical part of the appeal. Because of the size and nature of the appeal, WOC hopes to increase Disciples support and will depend upon designated contributions ñ which can be made to WOC, attn: Elaine Cleveland, P.O, Box 1986, Indpls, IN 46206 or online.

Disciples Work Group Opportunities Abound

Volunteer opportunities for Disciples work groups abound - indeed, the need for Disciples work groups has never been greater.

All of our Gulf Coast mission stations have an urgent need for hurricane recovery work groups this coming fall and winter. Seven stations are now operating in Gulfport, MS; New Orleans, LA; Metairie, LA; Covington/Slidell, LA; Lake Charles, LA; Beaumont/Pt. Arthur, TX; and Los Fresnos, TX. Week of Compassion does have work grant funds available.

Also, the Greensburg, KS, mission station is operating out of FCC, Kinsley, KS, and FCC, Pratt, KS. WOC has recently provided a grant to the South Central Kansas Tornado Recovery Organization to support a major home rebuilding initiative.

The Office of Disciples Volunteering (ODV) has scheduling details and other information on these and numerous other volunteer opportunities.

WOC Map/Poster

Click here for the latest additions to the WOC interactive map/poster. For a complimentary copy of the map/poster for your congregation, call the office at 317.713.2442 or send an e-mail to ecleveland@woc.disciples.org.