Trócaire is today launching an appeal in Ireland on behalf of Caritas International for $8 million for Iraq. Michael Jansen in Amman
The funds are for a Caritas Iraq programme to feed and provide medical care for three months for 260,000 internally displaced Iraqis living in the Mosul, Kirkuk, Baghdad and Basra regions.
The majority of these domestic refugees, comprising 21,000 families, are living with families, who will also benefit from aid. There are an additional 1,740 families, some 10,400 persons, lodged in church buildings.
Half of the displaced people are either under 14 or over 60 years of age.
Caritas Iraq is a purely Iraqi operation, with 135 local employees throughout the country. Mr Faik Bourachi, the local liaison officer, told The Irish Times that Caritas Iraq is the only independent non-governmental organisation working in the country.
"Before the war, Caritas Iraq drilled 67 boreholes all over Baghdad to provide water for the populace. Since the war began, it has sent seven lorry loads of water purification units, special storage tanks and medicines and supplementary food supplies to Iraq. Another three lorries are due to depart from Amman to Baghdad in the next few days," Mr Bourachi stated. The equipment and supplies are being provided for eight centres in Baghdad and six outside the capital run by Caritas Iraq and 18 centres operated by the Iraqi Red Crescent Society.
Following the imposition of sanctions in 1990 and the war of 1991, the charity distributed food to the most vulnerable, providing nourishment for 40,000 families or 250,000 persons. During this period, an estimated 500,000 Iraqi children died from disease and lack of proper nourishment.
"Our distributions covered all communities and the entire country," said Mr Bourachi.
After the oil-for-food programme was launched in 1997, Caritas Iraq converted its food distribution centres into medical centres which treat 25,000 malnourished infants and children a year. The agency employs 18 doctors, 22 other medical staff and social workers.
Caritas Iraq collaborates with the Iraqi Red Crescent Society by offering training to its staff and providing medical supplies and food. Caritas Iraq has also set up 10 water purification units on river banks in the south and near the central city of Najaf, all provided with back-up generators. Caritas Iraq has plans to do the same in the north.
"Caritas Jordan is the only NGO targeting Iraqis in Jordan," Mr Jamal Hattar, the charity's general director, said. "Three hundred thousand Iraqis came here after 1991 due to sanctions and the \ open border policy. We have set up five medical centres and have a hospitalisation programme for specialised cases."
The agency also provides afternoon schooling to children not in local schools. Its long-term goal is to help Iraqis go home. Caritas Jordan also has a programme for "extremely vulnerable individuals," those with mental and physical disabilities, chronic, acute and terminal medical conditions, unaccompanied children, and the elderly.
Mr Clive Cavanaugh, the director of this effort, said in the two months it has been operating the case load has grown to 800 by word of mouth. "The needs of these people are huge, they have nothing," Mr Cavanaugh stated. "They come with no cash. We supply everything, blankets, heaters, water containers. Some women are forced into prostitution to support their children. We are their last court of justice."