ACT Appeal: Relief & rehablilitation in Iraq MEIQ51

Appeal Target: US$1,453,039
Geneva, September 1, 2005

Dear Colleagues,

The continuous cycles of violence in Iraq prevents the country and its people from returning to normal life. Guerrilla attacks against the Coalition Forces (CF), public infrastructure, major locations, foreigners, contractors, police officers, local CF staff and civilians continued. The country is still in a state of emergency with little improvement noticed in terms of investment and job creation. A considerable portion of vulnerable Iraqi families will still need food and non-food assistance to cope with the necessities of life for some time to come. The continuous attacks on the Iraqi infrastructure by the insurgents, especially on the electric and water pump stations, has led most of the Iraqi people to suffer from shortage of electricity and drinking water. This situation has led to increased vulnerability, added by humanitarian needs that have exceeded the response capacity of the affected communities. Local communities are deprived of their resources and incapacitated by the situation. These communities are in need of food relief, health care, shelter, counselling and support.

ACT members, the International Orthodox Charities (IOCC), the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) and the Norwegian Church Aid (NCA), have been responding to this emergency during the last two years with the support of the ACT Alliance. IOCC is proposing to continue supporting the Iraqi population in rehabilitation and furnishing of schools and institutions for orphan and handicapped children; vocational training for youngsters and distribution of essential food; and hygiene items. MECC is proposing to continue providing food and non food assistance to the Iraqi war refugees located in the Ruwayshed camp in Jordan; and NCA is proposing to continue supporting small infrastructure and water and sanitation projects.

In spite of the security situation, IOCC and NCA have been able to continue working inside Iraq. They have established offices in the country, operating with Iraqi staff that are supported and monitored by regional offices located in neighbouring countries.

ACT is a global alliance of churches and related agencies working to save lives and support communities in emergencies worldwide.

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

Project Completion Date: 31 March 2006