wfn.org | LCMS - Lutherans assist with aid for Iraqis

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod
Board for Communication Services

LCMSNews -- No. 25
March 31, 2003

Lutherans assist with aid for Iraqis

U.S. Lutherans are among those who helped provide a shipment of medical aid 
to benefit children in Iraq that was delivered to two hospitals in Baghdad 
the week before hostilities broke out.

The $90,000 shipment of antibiotics, emergency medicines and medical 
supplies came from seven faith-based agencies -- including Baltimore based 
Lutheran World Relief (LWR) -- that are co-sponsoring an appeal for Iraq 
called "All Our Children."  The goal is to raise $1 million for medicines 
and medical supplies for sick and malnourished children in Iraqi hospitals 
and clinics.

Former President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, have endorsed the 
campaign.  In a Feb. 12 statement, the Carters said the campaign aims to 
"save thousands of Iraqi children who are victims of an international 
situation for which they have no responsibility."

Last fall, LWR sent $457,000 worth of material aid -- including quilts, 
personal-hygiene kits and school supplies -- to Iraq.  That aid was 
contributed by congregations of The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod and the 
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).

LWR also is using funds from LCMS World Relief and the ELCA World Hunger 
Appeal for aid work that involves churches in the Middle East.	Parishes in 
Iraq, for example, have prepared dozens of shelters in four Iraqi cities, 
in case civilians are forced from their homes because of the war.

LWR also is supporting a liaison officer in Jordan as part of its 
participation in Action by Churches Together (ACT), an international 
emergency alliance that is coordinating aid for Iraq.  LWR and other ACT 
members are assisting with sanitation, shelter and food at a refugee camp 
on the Jordan-Iraq border that can house 17,000 people.

LWR so far has provided $487,000 worth of aid for refugees in Iraq, and is 
seeking additional contributions for all of its current programs, including 
the "All Our Children" campaign.

For more information about aid to Iraq, visit the LWR Web site at 
http://www.lwr.org.  Contributions -- earmarked "Iraq" and made payable to 
LCMS World Relief -- may be sent to LCMS World Relief at P.O. Box 66861, 
St. Louis, MO 63166-9810.

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LCMSNews is published by the News and Information Division, Board for 
Communication Services, of The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod.  If you 
have questions or comments about this LCMSNews release, contact Joe 
Isenhower Jr. at joe.isenhower@lcms.org; (314) 996-1231 or Paula Schlueter 
Ross at paula.ross@lcms.org; (314) 996-1230.

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