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Published by International
Orthodox Christian Charities, August 5,
2004
IOCC
Resonding to Victims of Iraqi Church Bombings
Baghdad (IOCC)
– 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 humanitarian aid
agency of Orthodox Christians, 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 IOCC
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.
IOCC is one of four implementing partners for the
relief alliance Action by Churches Together (ACT)
in Iraq and is working in partnership with the
United Methodist Committee on Relief.
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.
IOCC is the humanitarian aid agency of the
Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops
in the Americas (SCOBA). All of its assistance is
delivered solely on the basis of need.
Donations may be sent to IOCC, “Middle East
Crisis,” P.O. Box 630225, Baltimore, Md.
21263-0225. Donations may also be made online at
www.iocc.org or by calling toll-free
1-877-803-4622.
IOCC has worked in the Middle East since 1997 and,
in addition to Iraq, has programs in the Holy
Land, Syria and Lebanon. To learn more about
IOCC’s humanitarian and self-help programs around
the world, please visit
www.iocc.org.
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