ACT News Update

Iraq 0404

ACT member responds to needs caused by Iraqi church bombings

By Stephen Huba (IOCC)

Geneva, August 5, 2004--The broken stained glass has been swept up, the structural damage is being repaired, but the Christian community of Iraq will take a long time to recover from the August 1 car bomb attacks.

Iraqi Christians, a minority in this predominantly Muslim country, have been left reeling from the large-scale violence against their communities in Baghdad and Mosul. International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC), a member of the global alliance Action by Churches Together (ACT) International, is working to meet the immediate needs of those most affected by the attacks.

Several of the damaged churches in Baghdad are part of a local ecumenical network of ACT members and partners that has been active in distributing food and hygiene kits to Iraqis in need over the past year. Since the bombings, IOCC staff, led by Dr. Saad Gedeon, have visited the churches and interviewed their priests and bishops.

"We are assessing the needs of the families of those killed or injured by these senseless acts of brutality, and IOCC will be providing assistance to them as we are able," said Dr. Gedeon, program coordinator for IOCC Iraq. "Christians around the world must stand with those who have fallen victim to this brutal violence, letting them know that we are with them not only in thought and prayer, but also in deed, in the days and weeks to come as they work to rebuild."

Despite the violence and unrest, IOCC continues its work in Iraq. Through IOCC's distribution network, hundreds of low-income Iraqi families receive food and other necessities. Victims of the recent attacks will receive food parcels, hygiene kits and other forms of assistance, depending on their needs.

Other ACT members implementing relief programs in Iraq are Middle East Council of Churches, Norwegian Church Aid and Diakonie Austria. The programs are supported by ACT members around the world.

Beginning operations in Iraq in April 2003, IOCC has been distributing food, hygiene and first aid parcels through the Middle East Council of Churches and its network of churches and mosques.