wfn.org | GOAA - IOCC EXPANDING OPERATIONS IN POST-WAR IRAQ

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SCOBA
The Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas
8 East 79th Street, New York, NY 10021

INTERNATIONAL ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHARITIES (IOCC)
110 West Road, Suite 360, Baltimore, Md. 21204
Tel: (410) 243-9820 -- Fax: (410) 243-9824
Web: www.iocc.org -- E-mail: news@iocc.org

For immediate release
July 23, 2003

IOCC EXPANDING OPERATIONS IN POST-WAR IRAQ

Baghdad (IOCC) -- Following up on its response to the immediate aftermath
of the war in Iraq, International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) is
preparing to deliver hundreds of thousands of dollars in humanitarian
assistance to some of Iraq's most vulnerable citizens.

In the coming weeks, IOCC will open an office and hire staff in Baghdad to
expand its operations and meet the growing humanitarian needs there. The
office, in cooperation with a network of churches and mosques, will
facilitate the delivery of emergency food, medicines and potable water to
children, women, the elderly, families in camps and internally-displaced
persons in and around Baghdad, said David Holdridge, IOCC Chief Operating
Officer.

Holdridge visited Baghdad in April to assess the needs and begin emergency
relief distributions on behalf of IOCC, the humanitarian aid agency of
Orthodox Christians. He is scheduled to return to Baghdad with other IOCC
senior staff later this month.

"IOCC's goal is to cooperate with churches and mosques in order to meet the
most pressing needs of suffering Iraqis," Holdridge said. "While the
situation has improved since IOCC began its first humanitarian assistance
two months ago, there are still large numbers of elderly, chronically ill,
disabled and destitute who are barely surviving."

With support from the relief alliance Action by Churches Together and the
Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, IOCC will deliver family food parcels,
first-aid kits, medicines and hygiene supplies to some of the neediest
Iraqis through a network of churches and mosques.

IOCC and the Middle East Council of Churches used that same network in
April and May to distribute 1,000 family food parcels in Baghdad.

In addition to distributing relief supplies, IOCC will provide technical
support to church-based organizations in Iraq so that they can assist the
needy communities surrounding them, Holdridge said.

Through its expanded presence in Iraq, IOCC will work to create stockpiles
of basic food supplies; create stockpiles of medicines and medical
supplies; secure clean potable water; and prevent health risks and the
transmission of disease.

IOCC's parent organization, the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox
Bishops in the Americas, is encouraging all Orthodox Christians to support
IOCC's efforts in Iraq through prayer and giving.

IOCC has worked in the Middle East since 1997 and, in addition to Iraq, has
programs in the Holy Land and Lebanon. To learn more about IOCC's
humanitarian and self-help programs around the world, please visit
www.iocc.org or call toll-free 1-877-803-4622.

For media inquiries, please contact IOCC Communications Associate Stephen
Huba at 1-877-803-4622 or shuba@iocc.org.

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