April 2, 2003, Amman, Jordan - Catholic
Relief Services (CRS) announced an international appeal for $8.3 million
to assist more than 260,000 Iraqis displaced within the country over the
next three months. Funds generated by the appeal, which is being sponsored
by Caritas Internationalis and circulated among its membership of more
than 154 Catholic agencies worldwide, will be implemented immediately to
assist the needy in Iraq.
The appeal was launched as the Caritas
confederation expressed fear that the number of Iraqis fleeing their homes
will escalate in the coming weeks.
"We hear reports of people movements when we speak with our staff throughout Iraq," said Faiq Bourachi, Liaison Officer with Caritas Iraq. "There is a fear that a large number of Iraqis will face internal displacement in the coming weeks and months, particularly as fighting in the Baghdad area is expected to produce a large number of displaced."
The funds raised will be used to support Caritas Iraq's relief program for internally displaced people throughout Iraq, primarily in the northern cities of Mosul and Kirkuk, but also around Baghdad and, in the south, Basra and surrounding areas. Caritas Iraq will focus on meeting the needs of the most vulnerable people, including malnourished children, nursing mothers, pregnant women and the sick.
"Humanitarian programs such as these in Iraq have already saved many lives," said Catholic Relief Services' Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, Christine Tucker. "We trust that the additional efforts sponsored through this appeal will save even more."
The assistance, which will be provided using Caritas Iraq's existing network of 14 centers in and around Mosul, Kirkuk, Baghdad and Basra, will target displaced Iraqis living in temporary shelters as well as those living with host families. Just under half of the program's recipients will be children or the elderly, traditionally those most vulnerable during a conflict. Each displaced family will receive food assistance - including supplementary food for children - for three months along with water containers, water purification tablets, mattresses, blankets, kitchen utensils, stoves, fuel and hygiene kits.
"The aim of this plan is to prevent the outbreak of disease among the people fleeing their homes and their host families by distributing monthly food rations and providing clean water," said Bourachi. "We will improve the nutritional standards among children who are already malnourished."
Caritas Iraq was established in 1992 by the Catholic Bishops of Iraq to promote social justice and support the poor and marginalized. It has a staff of 134 people along with 120 volunteers.
CRS is working with Caritas in Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and Turkey to respond to the immediate needs of Iraqis, including refugees. While CRS supports the humanitarian response, the agency continues its efforts to work for peace and lay the foundation for rebuilding what is damaged by the war and promoting the dignity of each Iraqi citizen.
Catholic Relief Services is marking its 60th year as the official international humanitarian agency of the U.S. Catholic community. The agency provides assistance to people in more than 90 countries and territories on the basis of need, not race, creed or nationality.
To contribute to Catholic Relief Services efforts, send donations to:
Iraq Humanitarian Response
Catholic Relief Services
P.O. Box 17090
Baltimore, MD 21203-7090
1-800-736-3467
Contact:
(Baltimore) Joe Carney
Office: (410) 951 7245; Cell: (443) 857 6583
jcarney@catholicrelief.org
or
(Amman) Franne Van der Keilen
Cell: (00) 2 010 545 9080; Office: (962 6) 569 9432; Hotel (best after
7:00 pm, Amman time): (962 6) 562 2200
fvander@catholicrelief.org