Boys wait in line in Hai Tarek, a Baghdad suburb, at a health clinic funded by the All Our Children program.
Boys
wait in line in Hai Tarek, a Baghdad suburb, at a health clinic funded
by the All Our Children program. The clinic opened to bring medical aid
to Iraqi children and women who have suffered from more than 10 years of
U.N.-imposed economic sanctions. A UMNS photo courtesy of Church World
Service. Photo number W04026, Accompanies UMNS #049, 2/10/04
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.
UMNS photo courtesy of Church World Service
Residents
of the Baghdad suburb of Hai Tarek, many of them women accompanied by
small children, line up daily outside a clinic receiving All Our
Children support.
Residents
of the Baghdad suburb of Hai Tarek, many of them women accompanied by
small children, line up daily outside a clinic receiving All Our
Children support. The clinic provides medical aid to Iraqi children and
women who have suffered from more than 10 years of U.N. sanctions. A
UMNS photo courtesy of Church World Service. Photo number W04027,
Accompanies UMNS #049, 2/10/04
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.