Appeal Target: US$7,074,557
Balance Requested from ACT Alliance: US$ 3,293,032

Geneva, 27 July 2004

Dear Colleagues,

While international media outlets continue to give full attention to the frightening consequences of the precarious security situation in Iraq that has worsened over the past months, humanitarian needs of the local civilian population that has been deeply affected by the protracted instability - seem to be receiving less attention. The fact that most of the relief agencies had to withdraw their staff for safety reasons is not encouraging ordinary Iraqis, dependant on humanitarian handouts, to keep up hope for a better future.

ACT members Norwegian Church Aid (NCA), International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC), Diakonie Austria (DA) and the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) have maintained their active presence in Iraq even after the security situation further deteriorated in the beginning of this year. Taking security precautions, they have managed, albeit slowly due to many obstacles, to reach out to the most vulnerable of the population.

Following on completion of an extended humanitarian assistance program under the ACT appeal MEIQ-31, our local member in the Middle East and Iraq - the Middle East Council of Churches - is joining the 2004 ACT appeal for Iraq. MECC aims at continuing to respond to life-sustaining needs of the local communities in Iraq that have been 'under fire' for a long period of time and the refugee camps in the deserts of so-called 'no man's land' at the border with Jordan. The focus remains on repair and rehabilitation of hospitals and schools, provision of supplementary food for the hospital patients and provision of monthly food and non-food rations to the refugees in Jordan.

For sake of brevity, this revision includes MECC's project proposal only. For project proposals of other ACT members, please refer to the first ACT appeal MEIQ-41.

Project Completion Date:

MECC - 31 January 2005

IOCC - 31 December 2004

NCA - 31 December 2004

Diakonie Austria - 31 May 2004 (extension requested until September 2004)

Please kindly send your contributions to the following ACT bank account:

Account Number - 240-432629.60A (USD)
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 (direct tel. +4122/791.60.38, e-mail address jkg@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:

ACT Director, Thor-Arne Prois (phone +41 22 791 6033 or mobile phone + 41 79 203 6055)

or

ACT Appeals Officer, Leila Dzaferovic (phone +41 22 791 6710 or mobile phone +41 79 757 9206)

ACT Web Site address: http://www.act-intl.org

Mieke Weeda
Acting Director, ACT
Co-ordinating Office

ACT is a worldwide network of churches and related agencies meeting human need through coordinated emergency response.

The ACT Coordinating Office is based with the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Switzerland.

I. REQUESTING ACT MEMBER

Middle East Council of Churches (MECC)

II. IMPLEMENTING ACT MEMBER & PARTNER INFORMATION

The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) is a fellowship of churches in the Middle East, related to the main stream of the modern ecumenical movement. MECC nurtures within the churches the spirit and resources for service in the Middle East, an arena for economic, political and often violent conflict. The Council's engagement in emergency relief has been targeting the poor, the oppressed and the exploited, the deprived and the displaced in countries such as Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine and Egypt. The relief actions and emergency interventions of MECC were directed towards the affected communities, regardless of their religious, ethnic and political affiliations.

MECC, through its team of highly trained staff, has carried out relief operations during periods of intense needs in the region. These operations included response in the form of food and non-food items, medical assistance, rehabilitation of houses, hospitals and primary health centres, rehabilitation of water projects, and psycho-social projects that support refugees in Jordan and internally displaced in Iraq.

III. DESCRIPTION of the EMERGENCY SITUATION

Current Situation

The current situation in Jordan is stable and no changes regarding refugees have occurred during the past year, except that a certain number of Palestinian refugees at Camp (A) in Ruweished, whose spouses hold Jordanian citizenship, were allowed to enter Jordan. Another number chose to return to Iraq rather than stay in the camps.

However, in Iraq, the overall situation is deteriorating. The lack of security, coupled with a less than adequate electricity supply, overflowing sewage systems, rampant crime, kidnapping of nationals (mostly wealthy persons) and foreigners, etc, nothing is abating. All problems that accompanied the downfall of the previous regime have multiplied.

During the 16 months of occupation, the electrical grid did not deliver the anticipated power supply, Iraqis were looking forward to. To the contrary, services became worse, as did the sewage system. Some positive signs were observed in the communications system, however, on-going sabotage to certain main telephone switches hamper the development in this sector.

All international agencies and NGOs have abandoned their posts for fear of attacks, leaving the work load to local staff. The impact of the security situation is affecting the whole population. People are suffering from the effects of occupation in which many innocent Iraqis have died in cross fire, or by stray bombs, or random shelling, or by booby trapped cars. Dozens of houses were either completely destroyed or partially damaged by the shelling of certain sectors of the cities. Many of the injured died, simply because there was no access to medical facilities.

The rate of unemployment is still as high, except in the construction sector, where American and foreign contractors are hiring large numbers of Iraqi labour. However, this labour force is targeted by terrorists, as those working for foreigners are being labelled as collaborators.

Location for Relief Response

JORDAN: The relief response will be implemented in two locations. The first is camp (A), 75 km inside Jordanian territory, which hosts, among others, Palestinian Refugees, originally residents of Iraq. They were compelled to leave during or immediately after the U.S. led war on Iraq. Many of these refugees were accused of being collaborators with the previous regime, as some had received housing allowances, wages and other privileges under the old regime. With the downfall of the regime, the owners of houses occupied by these Palestinians asked them to leave, or threatened them with eviction if they did not leave. This was even coupled with threats on their lives, or attacks. Consequently, there was an exodus of several hundreds of Palestinians, through the only gateway that was available at the time - Jordan, where a camp was set up to receive such refugees, amongst others.

During the past year, Jordan has permitted several dozen of these refugees, specially those married to Jordanian citizens, to live in the kingdom. While, another group recently, opted to return to Iraq, in spite of the dangerous situation that prevails in the country. Around 1,234 people remain and MECC and its partners plan to assist them with food and non-food items.

Camp (A) now hosts 280 Palestinians, 1 Lebanese, 5 Iraqis, 17 Sudanese, 21 Somalis, 10 Iranians, and another 9 Somalis (whose cases were rejected by UNHCR).

MECC/ACT was a key player in this Camp during the past year, supplying food to its residents, in co-ordination and co-operation with both the UNHCR and the Jordan Hashemite Charitable Organisation (JHCO).

Another camp (B) was set up last year in no-man's land, on the Jordanian-Iraqi borders. It was intended to accommodate refugees, whom Jordan was not willing to host on its territories for security reasons. This Camp was assisted by other INGOs, who ceased their relief operations in Jordan. MECC, in co-operation with UNHCR and JHCO plans to maintain its relief program through this appeal.

Camp (B) now hosts 1,044 Iranian Kurds, 6 Iranians, 1 Turkish Kurd, 6 Iraqi Kurds, 28 Iraqis, 35 Palestinians, 4 Jordanians, 1 Sudanese, 1 Syrian and 1 Egyptian.

IRAQ: MECC, has set up offices in Baghdad and Mosul. It has recruited the necessary relief team, mainly from volunteers who were trained to help its staff to implement the relief program, under the previous appeal MEIQ31.

Although previous plans were to enter into a development phase parallel with the emergency response phase it was implementing, the escalation in warfare and increased insecurity has compelled the ground team to re-assess its response, thus this appeal, will be a continuation of relief work in an on-going emergency situation.

As the security situation in Iraq is worse than ever, and with the increasing number of Iraqis that are being killed or injured, MECC plans to phase out some of its projects, and concentrate more on others. In spite of the handing over of power by the Coalition Forces to an appointed Iraqi Interim Government, the situation on the ground proves that such a government will face an uphill battle to bring any semblance of security to the people.

IV. TARGETED BENEFICIARIES

In Jordan: the population of both camps (352 in camp A & 1,127 in camp B) will benefit from food provided by MECC.

While a portion of the population, specially children between the ages of 5 and 18, together with infants and women will profit from certain non-food items as described here above.

In Iraq: The whole population in the cities of Falluja, Ramadi, Baghdad, Hilla, Kerbala and Najaf will benefit from MECC relief operation. However, the health and education sectors will be the main targets of the project.

V. GOAL & OBJECTIVES

Goals:

JORDAN: The overall goal is to alleviate the suffering of those still living in displacement camps.

IRAQ: The overall goal is to assist the health, social and education sectors to deal with some of the more pressing problems they are currently facing.

Objectives

JORDAN

- To provide an adequate monthly supply of basic food to refugees - residents of Camp (A) in Ruweished and Camp (B) in no-man's land.

- To provide non-food items, such as shoes, clothes and underwear to a segment of the camps' population. The extreme temperatures in the desert makes it imperative to assist the children in coping with the harsh situation.

- To provide logistical and administrative support to ACT-members visiting the region and to ACT-implementing partners operating from Amman.

- To provide logistical and administrative support to the MECC Baghdad office, specifically in the case of temporary relocation.

IRAQ

- To provide 12 hospitals and primary health centres in Falluja, Ramadi, Baghdad, Hilla, Kerbala and Najaf with medical supplies and materials, surgical equipment and medicines including those for the treatment of cancer.

A list of needed supplies has been handed over to MECC by the Ministry of Health. However, knowing the situation on the ground, this list might change over the time, but the basic requirements will remain, specially those related to surgical equipment, including X-Ray films, catheters, syringes, gauze, cotton and related items. Hospital sheets are also on the list of requirements.

The Ministry has requested MECC to supply them urgently with cardiac and diabetic medicines, for a duration of six months, starting 1 July 2004. These medicines will be distributed to hospitals and primary health centres where the most needy among the Iraqi population will benefit. With the random bombing and on-going warfare that is on-going, MECC intends to strengthen its operation by supplying much needed field surgical materials.

- To assist in rehabilitation of hospitals and primary health centres in the aforementioned cities. Following the recent fighting that took place in Falluja and Najaf, it was the primary health centres that had to deal with the casualties as the hospitals were not accessible most of the time. The health centres were totally unprepared for this unexpected task.

MECC plans to rehabilitate some of these centres through building additional rooms where needed to deal with the large and rising numbers of casualties; repairing/changing the water and sewage systems, electrical installations, or other fittings that may be necessary.

These centres will be officially assigned to MECC by the Ministry of Health, who will issue tenders for the contracted work. A local church-nominated Projects Committee will follow up on the selection, tendering and completion, while a Project Manager will follow up on the implementation of these projects.

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