Province to dispatch medical team to Iraq

The government of Gyeonggi province will send 100 volunteer medical workers to war-stricken Iraq next week.

"The group is planning to stay in Iraq for three to six months," a provincial government official said yesterday. "It will discuss with the United Nations and the United States where to stay to treat Iraqi nationals."

The government will provide 20,000 liters (5,280 gallons) of sterilizer and disinfectant to prevent outbreaks of epidemic, the official noted.

"The Gyeonggi government is to raise 1 billion won [$830,000] for the medical staff," he added.

Korea Food for the Hungry International, a local nongovernmental group, said it would send a medical team consisting of 10 doctors, nurses and pharmacists to Baghdad on Saturday. They will remain for two weeks.