March 31, 2003

U.S. Lutherans are among those who helped provide a shipment of medical aid to benefit children in Iraq that was delivered to two hospitals in Baghdad the week before hostilities broke out.

The $90,000 shipment of antibiotics, emergency medicines and medical supplies came from seven faith-based agencies - including Baltimore based Lutheran World Relief (LWR) - that are co-sponsoring an appeal for Iraq called "All Our Children." The goal is to raise $1 million for medicines and medical supplies for sick and malnourished children in Iraqi hospitals and clinics.

Former President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, have endorsed the campaign. In a Feb. 12 statement, the Carters said the campaign aims to "save thousands of Iraqi children who are victims of an international situation for which they have no responsibility."

Last fall, LWR sent $457,000 worth of material aid - including quilts, personal-hygiene kits and school supplies - to Iraq. That aid was contributed by congregations of The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).

LWR also is using funds from LCMS World Relief and the ELCA World Hunger Appeal for aid work that involves churches in the Middle East. Parishes in Iraq, for example, have prepared dozens of shelters in four Iraqi cities, in case civilians are forced from their homes because of the war.

LWR also is supporting a liaison officer in Jordan as part of its participation in Action by Churches Together (ACT), an international emergency alliance that is coordinating aid for Iraq. LWR and other ACT members are assisting with sanitation, shelter and food at a refugee camp on the Jordan-Iraq border that can house 17,000 people.

LWR so far has provided $487,000 worth of aid for refugees in Iraq, and is seeking additional contributions for all of its current programs, including the "All Our Children" campaign.

For more information about aid to Iraq, visit the LWR Web site at http://www.lwr.org. Contributions - earmarked "Iraq" and made payable to LCMS World Relief - may be sent to LCMS World Relief at P.O. Box 66861, St. Louis, MO 63166-9810.

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