wfn.org | LWF to Provide Short-Term Relief Effort in Iraq

["Frank Imhoff" <FRANKI@elca.org>]

LWF Department for World Service to Provide Short Term
Intervention in Iraq
Plan Includes Focus on Camp Management, Food Distribution and
Shelter Construction

GENEVA, 27 March 2003 (LWI) - The Lutheran World Federation (LWF)
will provide a short-term operational and supportive intervention
in Iraq through its Department for World Service (DWS), and
collaboration with partner organizations and agencies.

In an update on the Iraq crisis issued today, LWF/DWS confirms its
response to a request by Action by Churches Together (ACT)
International to increase its own involvement in Iraq due to the
limited capacity of other ACT members in the country to handle the
anticipated humanitarian needs. The LWF is a founding member of
the Geneva-based ACT, a network of churches and their related
agencies responding to emergencies throughout the world.

"The emphasis is to shift from being merely supportive to
operational," stressed Mr Neville Pradhan, LWF/DWS Program Officer
for Refugees and Emergencies, commenting on the organization's
humanitarian role in Iraq.

But he also pointed out that the LWF is mindful of concerns that
are relative to taking up the ACT request to intervene in a
post-conflict Iraq. Humanitarian situations in other parts of the
world, particularly Africa, remain a priority for LWF/DWS, Pradhan
said. He stressed that the work in Iraq would be short-term in
nature, aimed at giving additional support to other ACT members
with long-term activities in the area.

The LWF/DWS Representative in Kenya, Mr Bobby Waddell has been
assigned as a special representative to the Jordanian capital
Amman, for an interim period. Waddell has been liaising closely
with ACT members Norwegian Church Aid and the Middle East Council
of Churches (MECC), as well as with the various United Nations
offices to assess needs and determine the scope of LWF involvement
in the region. This task is linked to the larger ACT preparedness
plans for the Middle East, including a USD 4.9 million emergency
appeal. In addition, Mr Barry Lynam, LWF/DWS regional finance
controller will assist in financial advise and training, attached
to the ACT-Middle East Regional Coordination Office in Amman.

The LWF notes that whereas "not much can be said in definite terms
with regard to the future course of events and the consequent
humanitarian situation" at this stage, there is no doubt "about
the need for assistance that will continue to grow in direct
proportion to the damage and destruction resulting from the US-led
military action."

The expected influx of Iraqis into the neighboring countries,
especially Jordan and Syria, has fallen far below estimates. In
addition, limited access inside Iraq, makes it difficult to
determine the fate of thousands of people caught up in the
conflict.

LWF/DWS intervention will take into account the organization's
historical strengths and experience. A tentative plan to date
includes camp management, distribution of food and non-food items,
as well as shelter construction in internally displaced people's
camps in southern and central Iraq. Depending on need, there are
considerations for rehabilitation assistance in the post conflict
situation when people return to their homes. The LWF's
humanitarian arm is also considering partnership with ACT members
Christian Aid and ICCO, the Dutch interchurch organization for
development cooperation, both present in northern Iraq, where a
sizeable number of civilians are already seeking refuge.

Meanwhile, reports through the ACT communication network, say
Iraqi churches continue to carry out relief work inside the
country. The MECC has been instrumental in setting up a
church-based relief system in Baghdad, Mosul and Basra, to respond
to humanitarian needs resulting from the military strikes against
Iraq.

Although only a few people have asked for assistance, food is
becoming scarce in the markets and prices are rising. ACT reports
that more people are coming to the churches at night, in the hope
that it is safer to sleep there. Transportation too is becoming
difficult to access because of the risk of moving about.

The Lutheran World Information will continue to provide updates
about the LWF's involvement in Iraq.

(The LWF is a global communion of Christian churches in the
Lutheran tradition. Founded in 1947 in Lund (Sweden), the LWF now
has 136 member churches in 76 countries representing over 61.7
million of the 65.4 million Lutherans worldwide. The LWF acts on
behalf of its member churches in areas of common interest such as
ecumenical relations, theology, humanitarian assistance, human
rights, communication, and the various aspects of mission and
development work. Its secretariat is located in Geneva,
Switzerland.)

[Lutheran World Information (LWI) is LWF's information service.
Unless specifically noted, material presented does not represent
positions or opinions of the LWF or of its various units. Where
the dateline of an article contains the notation (LWI), the
material may be freely reproduced with acknowledgment.]

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English Editor: Pauline Mumia
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