wfn.org | Lutherans Prepare for Humanitarian Crisis in Iraq

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ELCA NEWS SERVICE

March 28, 2003

LUTHERANS PREPARE FOR HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN IRAQ
03-067-MR

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- With the U.S.-led military campaign against Iraq
now well underway, Lutherans prepare for a humanitarian crisis in Iraq.
     As the bombing campaign and ground fighting intensifies,
especially in and around Baghdad, Iraq's capital, a humanitarian crisis
is emerging there, said the Rev. Y. Franklin Ishida, director for
international communication, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
(ELCA) Division for Global Mission.
     "The United Nations estimates that several million people, many of
them children under five and nursing mothers, may need emergency
assistance in the coming months.  A prolonged war could result in Iraq's
civilians fleeing their homes, seeking refuge in other parts of the
country or in neighboring countries," said Ishida.
     "The people of Iraq have already suffered from two decades of
wars, repression and sanction.	The intensity and scope of this war will
cause catastrophic damage to government and other public institutions
and infrastructure, private sector industries, homes and business.  Mass
injury and death will seriously strain the capacity of health care
systems throughout the region.	Due to the long period of international
sanctions, the health care system in Iraq is already vulnerable," said
Ishida.
     The ELCA has issued a "Disaster Gram" requesting contributions to
the ELCA International Disaster Response to help with relief efforts
necessitated by the war in Iraq.  One-hundred percent of the
contributions will be designated to Iraqis fleeing the war.
     Coordinated by the ELCA Division for Global Mission, International
Disaster Response channels its funds through international church
organizations and relief agencies.  Funds are used to provide food,
medicine, drinking water, emergency shelter and other materials for
survivors of disasters around the world.
     The ELCA is responding through Action by Churches Together (ACT),
a worldwide network of churches and related agencies that meets human
need through organized emergency response.  It is based with the World
Council of Churches and the Lutheran World Federation, both in Geneva,
Switzerland.
     In a March 4 statement, ACT members said: "Humanitarian
impartiality is imperative and paramount.  Humanitarian aid will not be
used to further a particular political or religious standpoint.
Humanitarian aid is given regardless of the race, creed or nationality
of the recipients and without adverse distinction of any kind.
Humanitarian aid priorities are calculated on the basis of need alone.
As such, humanitarian agencies must be given unconditional access to the
affected population, the space to work in and maintain the right to take
independent positions and actions."
     ACT's local partner, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC),
is providing aid to those affected by the fighting through its network
of churches in Iraq, Ishida said.  The council, ELCA and other ACT
partners will distribute relief supplies for the duration of the war and
in its aftermath, he said.
     "The overall goal is to enable the most vulnerable among the
affected population to cope with life during and after this war," said
Ishida.  "The MECC aims at sustaining people's lives and reducing their
sufferings and distress.  Specific objectives include stockpiling basic
food commodities, medicine and medical materials for hospitals, secure
clean drinking water, provide shelters, bedding, heaters and kitchen
utensils, and preventing health hazards and transmission of diseases,"
he said.
     Lutheran World Relief, the overseas relief and development
ministry of the ELCA and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, has
supplies already in place for use in Iraq and Jordan, including $457,000
worth of health kits and school kits and 22,000 quilts, said Ishida.
     "Such emergency efforts complement the 'All Our Children' campaign
spearheaded by Church World Service, a relief and development agency of
U.S. Protestant and Orthodox churches, including the ELCA," Ishida said.
     Joined by Lutheran World Relief and a handful of other agencies,
Church World Service is responding to critical health-care needs of
children in Iraq by providing desperately needed antibiotics,
anesthesia, IV-solution kits and methods for accessing clean drinking
water, he said.
     During the last 20 years, the children of Iraq have suffered under
internal and external forces such as the Gulf War, sanctions and the
protracted Iraqi war with Iran. Estimates on the number of children who
have died run from 500,000 to more than 1 million, said Ishida.
-- -- --
     Details on the ELCA's International Disaster Response are at
http://www.elca.org/dgm/disaster/current.html on the Web.

INTERNATIONAL DISASTERS:
Editors: When listing organizations receiving funds for aid to survivors
of major disasters outside the United States, Puerto Rico or the U.S.
Virgin Islands, please include:

ELCA International Disaster Response
PO Box 71764
Chicago, IL 60694-1764
1-800-638-3522
http://www.elca.org/scriptlib/dcm/giving/idisaster.asp

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html