Irish aid agencies step up presence on borders of Iraq

IRISH aid agencies are stepping up their presence on the borders of Iraq, anticipating a major humanitarian crisis there when war is launched and bombing begins.

Both Concern and GOAL have sent representatives to neighbouring Jordan in order to co-ordinate humanitarian aid in the wake of an extensive bombing campaign by US and British forces.

The GOAL representative, Ray Jordan, is in the Middle East to help set up his organisation’s response to the impending crisis.