Monday 14th April 2003

The Archbishop of Armagh, the Most Rev Dr Robin Eames and the Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Rev John Neill, have urged the international community to provide humanitarian aid to the people of Iraq. In a joint statement the Archbishops said:

“The consequences of the war in Iraq have still to unfold, but already the desperate humanitarian situation is apparent. Millions of people young and old alike are facing loss of adequate housing, food, water and medical care, to say nothing of the trauma caused through injury and the loss of loved ones.

“A pressing responsibility rests on those who have waged war against Iraq, involving huge financial resources, to provide comparable resources immediately in humanitarian aid to the people of Iraq. Furthermore ways must be found to allow the wider international community to share in this urgent task.

“As Christians we have a duty to share in this humanitarian undertaking and to support work taken by non-governmental agencies such as the International Red Cross and Red Crescent.

“As we rejoice in the hope through the Resurrection of Christ we would call upon members of the Church of Ireland, and on all our parishes, to consider making a special collection on Easter day for the Bishops’ Appeal for World Development, and so enable aid to be sent to Iraq in the most appropriate manner.”