United Methodist relief agency begins humanitarian appeal to relieve suffering of children, families in Iraq

March 26, 2003

NEW YORK -Anticipating the growing need for humanitarian aid in Iraq related to current war conditions, the United Methodist Church's relief agency is appealing for contributions to assist ecumenical efforts to relieve suffering among innocent Iraqi children and families.

The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) plans to share funds raised through its emergency appeal with humanitarian relief agencies related to colleague American and European churches as well as indigenous Iraqi churches, said the Rev. Paul Dirdak, UMCOR's chief executive.

The relationship with European and Iraqi churches is important to carrying out such efforts, Dirdak said, "because the troops in Iraq are primarily U.S. and British. The fact that on-the-ground relief workers are from other countries, and, where possible, in support of Iraqi humanitarians with years of experience, will make their work smoother."

Dirdak said that UMCOR likely will support long-term projects including health care, food and shelter, particularly for children.

The United Nations Children's Fund estimates that more than 1 million Iraqi children younger than 5 are malnourished because of limited food supplies, and therefore, susceptible to disease. Children make up half Iraq's population.

Prior to the war, about 60 percent of the Iraqi population had depended on the United Nations' Oil for Food program, suspended because U.N. staff no longer is available to administer it. Oil for Food allowed the Iraqi government to sell oil and use the revenue to purchase humanitarian supplies.

"Agencies that can start operations in Iraq are already doing that," Dirdak noted. "Churches have been serving children in Iraq for years. These new efforts, relying on people working in Iraq, are expansions of basic long-term service in which we've been involved through partnerships."

One such long-term cooperative effort involves Church World Service, an ecumenical relief, development and refugee assistance ministry of 36 U.S. denominations, including the United Methodist Church through UMCOR. Church World Service, working with the Middle East Council of Churches, had positioned relief supplies in Iraq and Jordan just prior to the war.

In a letter posted on UMCOR's Web site, Dirdak notes the prophetic nature of United Methodist leaders' statements "about the added human and relationship consequences of war," and stresses the importance of communicating such information. UMCOR, along with the World Council of Churches and the Lutheran World Federation, is slated to operate from Amman, Jordan, a communications capacity on behalf of all the churches.

UMCOR began operating in 1940 during World War II as a temporary relief unit to respond to needs of human suffering worldwide. Its work was extended for many years, and it became a permanent part of the United Methodist Church's missions agency in 1972. Working with partner agencies and ecumenical networks, UMCOR supports hundreds of projects, within and outside the United States, using money received through the denomination's designated giving program and supplemental gifts.

Donations to UMCOR's Iraq Emergency Advance #623225-4 can be made through local United Methodist congregations, or directly to UMCOR by mail (475 Riverside Dr., Room 330, New York, NY 10115). Online credit-card donations may be made at gbgm-umc.org/umcor or by calling (800) 554-8583.

If you know someone who has yet to sign up for e-HUM, they simply need to send a blank e-mail from their preferred e-mail account to add@inareaumc.org.

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