The MECC Amman Office received several visits during November: The Director of Communication (the Associated Church Press) of the Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, and other members of the Presbyterian Church in the USA and Canada paid a visit to the MECC Amman offices on November 6, 2006. Generally interested in learning more about churches that are actively involved in the MECC in Jordan and the work of the MECC, in addition to the challenges faced, accomplishments and achievements, the group was more specifically interested in learning about women in the region and in Jordan, and in particular about their involvements and their challenges.
Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) country representatives for Jordan and Iraq and Amman director visited the MECC office on November 8, 2006. Update s and activity reports were mutually presented. MCC representatives showed interest in cooperating with the MECC in Jordan. Peace building workshops were suggested for future collaboration.
The Amman Office also received IOCC Country Representative for an exchange of information and update on activities particularly what concerns Christia n Iraqis living in Jordan.
Finally, foreign correspondent for the Pittsburgh (PA) Tribune-Review visited the MECC Amman Office on November 3, to hear about MECC¹s work regarding Iraqis in Jordan and Iraqi Christians in particular. Her main story will be about the Immigration of Iraqi Christians to Jordan, and the MECC?s role in supporting them.
Ruwaished Refugee Camp
As the number of refugees in this camp at the Jordanian-Iraqi border continues to decrease, a Jordanian source recently reported that 53 Palestinians were accepted to leave the Refugee Camp to be resettled in Canada. They will leave towards the end of the year. 17 Iranian Kurds will be also leaving for Australia. This winter will be their 4th winter in the desert Camp.
100 refugees are left, with no place to go, and with a pretty difficult general health situation Palestinians among them cannot return to Iraq due to the insecurity situation in Iraq and the UNHR is working hard to help them find a resettlement country. For further information, please contact Ms. Wafa Gousous at: wafa_mecc@go.com.jo
Middle East Council of Churches Office of International Ecumenical Relations P.O. Box 5376, Beirut, Lebanon
Guirgis Ibrahim Saleh, General Secretary
mecc@cyberia.net.lb or guirgissaleh@cyberia.net.lb
+961-1-353-938 http://www.mec-churches.org/