Appeal Target: US$ 840,046
Balance Requested to the ACT Alliance: US$ 303,313

Geneva, 2 March 2009

Dear Colleagues,

The population in Iraq has suffered for years as a consequence of the war in 2003 and the sanctions that were imposed after the Gulf war in 1991. The widespread insecurity due to the collapse of the regime of Saddam Hussein and the absence of adequate security forces forced large parts of the population to take refuge in other parts of Iraq and in neighboring countries, in Europe and North America. Up to 2,5 million internally displaced people (IDPs), according to UNHCR figures in January 2008, continued to be in need of food, water, housing, medical care and education for their children. The Iraqi Red Crescent Society estimates that 38 percent of IDPs are women and children. The number of people who left Iraq is estimated to be more than 2.5 million. Syria alone has an estimated 1.2 million Iraqi refugees. In 2007, as a consequence of the increase in troops, both Iraqi and US, fighting Al Qaida, the security situation had improved somewhat, before deteriorating again in 2008.

Against this background, it is still very important to provide humanitarian relief to both refugees and IDPs. ACT members involved in the appeal MEIQ71, International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC), Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) and Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) plan to provide assistance to the most vulnerable people inside Iraq and to refugees in Syria. In addition, IOCC is working on additional proposals for refugees in both Jordan and Lebanon.

IOCC has proposed to assist selected communities in Iraq through its church-related network with a total of 4,500 Iraqi families receiving food parcels and hygiene kits. The funding reached 49,331US$ by end of the implementation period. The component will be completed by 31 March 2009 and the total envisaged target figures have been reduced accordingly.

NCA: has started to assist boys and girls in Al Qassim district, Babylon Governorate, with non-formal education, literacy programs and recreational activities, 7 schools in the District of Hashmiya, in the southern part of Babylon Governorate, with access to clean water (networks), safe sanitation facilities and sufficient storage capacity and poor families in the Marsh Arab Areas, Basrah Governorate with 25 shelters.

MECC: has proposed to assist 500 refugee families in Syria with hygiene items, 300 youth from both sexes with vocational training courses and 400 Iraqi women with a Health Awareness programme. Until mid – February, MECC has achieved its target of assisting 1,500 families with hygiene items and providing health awareness to 250 women. The appeal provided funds for 425 young women and men to attend vocational training courses in sectors of computer training, language training, hair styling and body care. The financial target of this component was fully funded. Therefore, MECC has re-assessed the needs of refugees in Damascus and Aleppo, as many refugees cannot return to Iraq despite the political improvements in the country and still live in very fragile conditions in Syria. To respond to this situation, MECC proposes to carry out additional activities in the areas of vocational training (200 women and men) and health awareness (an additional 100 women) and to provide hygiene kits to another 1,000 families.

IOCC / Jordan: IOCC has started to provide art and drama therapy through implementing partners for 300 children of age between 7 and 14 years and cultural performances for 1,000 family members that aim at mitigating the psychological effects of the situation. Also, IOCC will provide multiple vocational training in portable crafts for 300 youth and young adults, who are without work and training opportunities.

While funding has been very satisfactory for the work with the refugees in Syria and Jordan, the targets for the other components have not yet been reached.

Project Completion Date:

IOCC/ Iraq: 31 October 2008 – extended 31 March 2009
IOCC/Jordan: 30 June 2009
MECC: 31 July 2009
NCA: 31 July 2009

Please kindly send your contributions to either of the following ACT bank accounts:

US dollar
Account Number - 240-432629.60A
IBAN No: CH46 0024 0240 4326 2960A

Euro
Euro Bank Account Number - 240-432629.50Z
IBAN No: CH84 0024 0240 4326 2950Z

Account Name: ACT - Action by Churches Together
UBS AG
8, rue du Rhône
P.O. Box 2600
1211 Geneva 4, SWITZERLAND
Swift address: UBSW CHZH12A

Please also inform the Finance Officer Jessie Kgoroeadira (jkg@act-intl.org) and the Programme Officer Michael Zschiegner (mzs@act-intl.org), of all pledges/contributions and transfers, including funds sent direct to the implementers, now that the Pledge Form is no longer attached to the Appeal.

We would appreciate being informed of any intent to submit applications for EU, USAID and/or other back donor funding and the subsequent results. We thank you in advance for your kind cooperation.

For further information please contact:

Director John Nduna (phone +41 22 791 6033 or mobile phone + 41 79 203 6055) or
ACT Program Officer Michael Zschiegner (phone +41 22 791 6420 or mobile phone +41 79 608 8133) ACT
Web Site address: http://www.act-intl.org

Bob White
Deputy Director, ACT Co-ordinating Office