wfn.org | CWS to Deliver Medicine to Iraqis

[CAROL_FOUKE.parti@ecunet.org (CAROL FOUKE)]

National Council of the Churches of Christ in the
U.S.A.
Contacts: In U.S.: Wendy McDowell, NCC, 212-870-2227, or
      Mel Lehman, CWS, 212-870-3004 (before
4/5)
     In Amman, 4/6-4/7: Mel Lehman or David Weaver,
       Radisson SAS Hotel, Tel. 962-6-560-7100
     In Baghdad, c/o Mike Nahhal, MECC, Tel. 964-1-
548-3799
Internet:  news@ncccusa.org

33NCC3/30/98                FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CHURCH WORLD SERVICE TO DELIVER MEDICINE TO SUFFERING
IRAQIS AT EASTER

WHAT:
A trip of compassion to Iraq on Easter
weekend sponsored by Church World Service
(CWS), to bring badly needed medicines to
suffering Iraqis.  34 U.S. denominations
(combined membership: 52 million) work
through CWS, the humanitarian relief,
development and refugee assistance ministry
of the National Council of Churches.  CWS
works with indigenous partner agencies in
more than 70 countries, including the United
States.

CWS and church representatives also will
worship with Christians in Baghdad, visit
hospitals and service agencies which have
received CWS aid, converse with church and
religious leaders, and meet with government
officials in Baghdad to discuss the
humanitarian impact of the economic
sanctions against Iraq.

WHEN:
APRIL 8 - 13 in Baghdad, Iraq, with travel
from Amman, Jordan, on April 7.

WHY:
"We are going to express our Christian
compassion and solidarity for the churches
and people of Iraq at Easter time, the time
in our shared faith tradition which
represents the hope of new life after
suffering and adversity," said David M.
Weaver, CWS/NCC Middle East Office Director.

WHO:
The Rev. Dr. Rodney Page, CWS Executive
Director, will lead the group.  Also going
from CWS: Mr. Weaver; Rick Augsburger, CWS
Emergency Response Office Director, and Mel
Lehman, CWS Constituency Information and
Development Director.  Other participants
include: Kara Newell, Executive Director of
the American Friends Service Committee
(AFSC); Kenlynn Schroeder, Director of
Grants, Emergencies and Material Resources
for Lutheran World Relief (LWR), and Riad
Jarjour, General Secretary of the Middle
East Council of Churches (MECC).  Mike
Nahhal, Relief Coordinator for the MECC,
will join the group in Baghdad.

HISTORY:
CWS began providing emergency relief in 1991
to victims of the Gulf War in Iraq and
elsewhere and has provided nearly $3 million
in humanitarian aid to date.  CWS is now
focusing its efforts upon aiding those still
displaced and vulnerable, particularly those
whose needs have been exacerbated by the
United Nations-imposed sanctions.  Most
recently, in response to a February 1998
appeal from Action by Churches Together
(ACT) International, the global ecumenical
relief network, CWS sent $325,000 worth of
in-kind donations to Iraq, including 56,000
blankets, layettes for 20,000 newborn
children and school kits.  CWS raised
$150,000 to go toward operational costs and
for the purchase of medicines.  $100,000
worth of medicines, including aspirin and
antibiotics, will be delivered during this
trip.

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