Current Situation:

The last two decades in Iraq's history have brought civil war with the Kurds, conflict with neighboring Iran, the invasion of Kuwait, the Gulf War, and international sanctions. As a result of these conflicts as well as the internal policies of the Iraqi government—its deliberate misallocation and diversion of resources and its inability to resolve disputes with the international community—the standard of living of the Iraqi people has deteriorated significantly. The United Nation's Oil for Food Program, which was put in place to address the humanitarian needs of the people of Iraq while at the same time ensuring regional military security, has been only partially successful, and, subsequently, Iraq is facing a humanitarian crisis.

The country has seen a dramatic decline in most socioeconomic indicators. Up to 30 percent of children under five years of age suffer from malnutrition, leading to the death of 6,000 infants every month. In addition, approximately 25 percent of young men and women manifest signs of chronic malnutrition. By 2001, the number of people with access to drinkable water dropped to only 11 percent, a staggering decline from 92 percent in 1989. This situation has led to the multiplication of waterborne diseases and epidemics, which threaten the lives of a vulnerable population, already weakened by nutritional problems.

Catholic Relief Services' Responds:

CRS has provided humanitarian assistance to the people of Iraq since the end of the Gulf War. Since 1999, our most extensive involvement has been in a supplemental feeding program for malnourished children, pregnant women, and nursing mothers. By 2001, the program had reached over 16,500 children and 7,000 pregnant and lactating women in six areas throughout Iraq. The program remains a vehicle for awareness raising in the local community on basic issues such as proper hygiene and good nutritional habits. This program also builds local non-governmental organizations' capacities to address the nationwide problem of malnutrition.

CRS also addresses the problem of poor drinking water by providing assistance for the rehabilitation of water systems in several areas. Our programming reaches approximately 130,000 people including Muslims, Christians and Yazidis. Local communities contribute towards the efforts of building a more responsible civil society to address their concerns and needs. Finally, CRS also works directly with the Archdiocese of Basra in southern Iraq to distribute medicine and offer vocational training to needy populations.

In addition to serving the vulnerable Iraqi population inside the country, CRS also serves a significant population of Iraqi refugees in Jordan and Lebanon by providing humanitarian assistance and legal support.

What You Can Do:

• Pray for all those who are suffering in Iraq from malnourishment and oppression, and for those in Iraq and in our own country working for peace.

• Visit the CRS website for more information on our programming in Iraq and for the full text of the joint CRS/USCCB Action Alert on Iraq.

• To learn more about the Catholic Church's position on Iraq visit the Social Development and World Peace page of the USCCB website.

For more information, please contact Laurie Latuda at 410.951.7346 or Karen Smithat 410.951.7461.