The health of Iraq's children remains at risk but help is being delivered, according to Rick Augsburger, emergency response director for Church World Service.
Those offering assistance include the denominational supporters of the "All Our Children" campaign, which includes the United Methodist Committee on Relief. Church World Service is the lead agency for the campaign.
Iraqi children suffered terribly for a decade before the conflict in Iraq because of U.N.-imposed economic sanctions. "Now," said Augsburger, who visited Iraq in January, "limited access to clean water and sanitation, poverty, malnutrition and disrupted public health services are continuing to chip away at the well-being of millions of Iraqi infants and children.
"Health consequences of the war will be felt by its people for years, maybe generations," he said. "I saw lines of children and mothers waiting for admission into a CWS-supported clinic to receive basic treatment. A mother mentioned to me that she was grateful for this assistance, but she was worried about how she and her family could ever resume a normal life."
Despite increased violence and security challenges to humanitarian workers in the country, Augsburger said his agency's support for Iraq's children is continuing.
Since the war's outbreak, Church World Service has directly contributed $1.2 million worth of surgical kit donations to Baghdad hospitals. The agency shipped more than 30,000 of its health and school kits to Iraq in January, scheduled for distribution in March. The All Our Children campaign has provided $604,000 in grants and has programmed $183,000 in material assistance, primarily medical and hygiene supplies and clean water.
Recent All Our Children projects include a pediatric hospital rehabilitation in Karbala, a psychosocial theater program for children, and continued provision of clean drinking water and basic medicine in a slum area.
Besides the United Methodists, other denominations involved in the All Our Children campaign include the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Church of the Brethren, Episcopal Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Presbyterian Church USA, Reformed Church in America and United Church of Christ.
People interested in supporting the All Our Children campaign can contribute to UMCOR Advance #623225, "Iraq Emergency," and earmark the money for "All Our Children." Donations can be left in local church offering plates or sent to UMCOR, 475 Riverside Drive, Room 330, New York, NY 10115. Credit-card donors can call (800) 554-8583. One hundred percent of all donations will be used for the campaign.
*Information for this story was provided by Church World Service.
Korean News
