Relief workers head for danger zone

TRÓCAIRE’s head of communications, Caroline Lynch, is today making a trip not many would envy.

She will land in Jordan at 7.30pm and soon after make her way across the border to Iraq.

She is part of a seven-member specialist team which will examine and report on the conditions of the 34 refugee camps which Caritas, an organisation representing over 140 Catholic charities worldwide, has set up, or given aid to in Iraq.

“I suppose it is a bit nerve wracking but I volunteered, and was then selected to do this two months ago. I will be working day and night, but that is no problem.

“At the moment thousands of refugees are making their way from central and southern Iraq towards the north and borders of the country, where some of our camps are located.

“Trócaire has already spent 80,000 in funding the Caritas camps, and we have also worked with the Iraqi Red Crescent camps. We have stockpiled water and medical supplies, and also built some wells near first aid centres.

“We have tried to address health care and sanitation, and have bought six ambulances for a local hospital here,” Caroline said. At the moment hundreds of people are arriving to the Caritas camps but the UN estimates 600,000 Iraqis are likely to become refugees during the conflict.

The Irish agency GOAL is also on the frontline of the conflict. Irishman Ray Jordan huddled in a bomb shelter awaiting his chance to enter Iraq on Friday.

As GOAL’s emergency co-ordinator Mr Jordan is heading up an advance team of 20 humanitarian workers waiting for the all-clear to begin relief operations in Iraq. “Our job is to go in as soon as we can. As soon as we are told by the international agencies like the UN and the US authorities that it is safe to enter Iraq we will move immediately to enter the country and begin our job,” said Mr Jordan.

Up to 60% of the people in Iraq who were relying on the UN-sponsored oil for food programme for all their foodstuffs now have no source of food. But GOAL has no idea when it will be safe enough for its workers to enter Iraq and commence its aid operation.

“The fact that missiles are landing in Kuwait has dispelled any suggestion this war is going to be an easy situation for the US-led troops,” said Mr Jordan. “Thousands are at risk even if they are not killed in the war,” he continued.

l Details of how to

donate to GOAL’s relief campaign can be found on www.goal.ie. Trócaire can be reached on 01 6293333 or www.trocaire.org.