With the support of ACT International the MECC launched on July 30th an appeal to assist Iraqi refugees in Iraq, Jordan and Syria. Both Jordan and Syria are struggling to host 2.2 Million Iraqis, who have fled their countr y over the last 4 years (1.4 Million in Syria and 750,000 in Jordan). Due to lack of security in Iraq and the violent events, Iraqis are displaced internally and externally with mass exodus, which causes a great deal of suffering, losses and uncertainty. Hundreds of Christian Iraqi families wer e forced to leave their homes with empty hands in Baghdad to other neighborin g areas in Iraq. They are stock in a miserable situation with no support. Iraqis in Jordan have no legal status of work or education. They are considered ³visitors² and rely on international support to earn their living. Iraqis in Syria are facing dire conditions with little resources available and uncertain future. They benefit from the legal status of work and education for children. Yet their financial resources are diminishing. The MECC has appealed to ACT to support Iraqis in these countries who are inflicted with humanitarian distress. The MECC proposes to assist Iraqis with food parcels, medicine and clothes in Iraq, Jordan and Syria. It proposes providing basic school education to Iraqis children in Jordan and Syria. The proposal also includes supporting youths in Syria to get compute r training. The ACT has responded positively to the appeal and considered it as an emergency case. For further information contact: guirgissaleh@cyberia.net.lb, mecc@cyberia.net.lb
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/