IRAQI CHRISTIANS IN NEED

In Iraq

Educational and Medical support Program.

ICIN helps displaced and needy families through a group of young energetic and committed people. They work under the auspices of the Bishop of Baghdad and other known clergy. Details of each family are recorded and their situation assessed for the best possible help. This includes among other things monthly cash installments to help with expenses and family needs, paying for medical and prescription bills and providing education for the children. In December 07, ICIN sponsored a full day of activities for children and their families as a Christmas celebration.   

The day started with Mass, followed by a play put on by the Catechism students, Coffee break, Music and games, then Lunch was served. The Day ended with the distribution of Christmas presents. One hundred children and young people took part with some 60 members of their families.

In Duhok, north Iraq, we supported a Bakery and Pastry shop which was started by a charity called Basmat al-Qarib.

More details........

Photo courtesy of Basmat al-Qarib

Please give us your ideas to help the refugees help themselves and train for a better future.

In Jordan

ICIN's work is with Fr. Khalil Jaar of Our Lady of Nazareth Church, Amman. He runs a well organised program that help displaced Iraqi families. With ICIN’s contribution he managed to distribute food parcels, heaters, blankets to these families. A Christmas party for 350 Refugees was organised and 4 big cartons of toys shipped by ICIN were distributed as Christmas gifts for the children.

Expulsion of Iraqi children from schools as a result of failing to pay the fees is another phenomenon that ICIN tries to tackle. Through Fr. Jaar we managed to sponsor a number of students by paying for their education. Our aim is to develop a student sponsorship program for different educational levels.

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Here is the plea from Jordan, which ICIN is reacting to:-

Dear brothers and Sisters

Peace in Jesus Our Lord,

As the scholastic year 2007-2008 is almost coming to an end   the 30 of May 2008, the school started more and more to disturb many of our dear Iraqi pupils to pay their fees in order to be able to attend the final exam!

I know that many of these families are struggling to live    in Amman,

In addition the children are humiliated daily when they are subject to be punished and expulse from the school. This is the why I decided to launch this campaign in favor of our children, they have the right to go to school, the education is more important than any thing else.

This list is for the pupils* that their parents had the courage to come and ask for help! There are others that they preferred to keep their children at home others to send them to work in the market or in the streets of Amman!!!!

If you can do something, I will be very thankful, once again in my name and in the name of these families Thank you so much may the Lord keep on blessing you.

Fr. Khalil JAAR

Our Lady of Nazareth Church, Sweifieh Amman

*  The list sent contains names of 32 students needing Eight thousand eighty five Jordan Dinars 8085 = 11550 US dollars .

Fr. Khalil at work

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Please contact us for details if you want to be
the proud savior of a wasted mind.

In Syria

ICIN started its work with the Chaldean Bishop, Antoine Audo who runs an extensive program to help displaced Iraqi families all over Syria. This includes the distribution of food parcels, help towards the cost of medical care and education for children. We also sponsored a Christmas party for children during which they were given toys and anoraks.  

We also established contact with the bishop of the Syrian Orthodox church in Aleppo, Mar Gregorious Youhanna Ibrahim and provided aid to support his program of help to the Iraqi refugees

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Here is a report prepared by Dr. Suha Rassam and Dr. Faiz Tappouni and is being studied by ICIN executive council to determine an appropriate course of action.

Our trip Syria gave us a clear insight regarding the terrible situation of the Iraqi Christian refugees.

We met with Bishop Audo of the Chaldeans, Bishop Yuhanna Ibrahim of the Syrian Orthodox Church, as well as a priest from Der Ibrahim al-Khalil of the Room Catholic church and another from the Church of the East. All are involved in one way or another in helping the Iraqi refugees not only by distributing food parcels, but also in providing subsidised medical clinics, running educational and computer courses as well as training for skills. Most of them are working hand in hand with Caritas, the Middle East Council of Churches, the UN and other charitable organizations.

We met several Iraqi families who in spite of all the help they are receiving, are in desperate situation and need of further support not only financially but also psychologically. Having lost their homes and livelihood and with no work to do they have hard time finding constructive ways of spending their time. The Syrian government considers Iraqis as guests and accept their children in their Schools. However spaces are expectedly limited and many students lag behind in their education.

Every single Iraqi we met asks: what is going to happen to us? Every day they hear of another atrocity and another attack on their clergy and churches. Whether they have financial support or not, all share one dilemma: what is next??

It would be of great value to establish a centre where Iraqis, especially young people can have training in some skills and languages as well as meeting each other socially and for recreation.

Please be our channel to the needy wherever
they might be.

In Lebanon

Appeal from  Msg Michel Kassarji: