wfn.org | SCOBA - COMMUNITIES OF FAITH RESPONDING TO THE NEEDS OF IRAQIS

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

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

November 19, 2003

COMMUNITIES OF FAITH RESPONDING TO THE NEEDS OF IRAQIS

Baghdad (IOCC) -- The suffering of post-war Iraq extends beyond the daily
violence in and around Baghdad to the many vulnerable families who can't
meet their everyday needs.

International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) is helping some 20,000 of
these families achieve greater food security in the days and weeks to come
through widespread distributions of family food parcels. IOCC, the
humanitarian aid agency of Orthodox Christians, also is distributing
parcels with hygiene items such as detergent, soap and toothpaste.

"It is sad to witness the misery of people living in a wealthy country like
Iraq deprived of basic needs of life, including decent living conditions
and education," said George Antoun, IOCC's Middle East regional director.
"We have a wide range of assistance that we're going to give."

Despite the poor security situation in and around Baghdad and the pullout
of some international relief agencies, IOCC will continue to provide
humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable Iraqis, Antoun said. "We
have every intention to keep the operation going in Iraq right now."

IOCC is monitoring the security situation and remains focused on the safety
of its staff.

Antoun traveled to Iraq in July and again in September to assess the needs
and open an IOCC office in Baghdad. Currently, IOCC is implementing nearly
$400,000 in humanitarian assistance in Baghdad and the northern city of
Mosul, supported by the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the relief
alliance Action by Churches Together.

IOCC began operations in Iraq in April, soon after the end of armed
conflict, distributing food, hygiene and first-aid parcels through the
Middle East Council of Churches. IOCC is using that same network of
churches and mosques to do its current distributions, Antoun said.

"There is a wide range of things that people need in Iraq, and it varies
from one section to another," Antoun said. "You still have poor people who
need food, even basic things. These people are either unemployed or they
lost something as a result of the fighting. They need relief support, in
terms of food and non-food items."

  IOCC is working closely with the Antiochian Orthodox community in Baghdad
in the warehousing and distribution of relief supplies, Antoun said.
Churches and mosques are providing IOCC with lists of the neediest members
of their communities.

"We have identified a number of families who have handicapped children, and
we're going to support them," Antoun said. "We also have located a number
of displacement centers where people are living now and they're not getting
any support. So we're going to provide help to them."

IOCC's parent body, 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 is an implementing partner of Action by Churches Together, an
international alliance of churches and relief agencies.

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.

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

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