Salvation Army recovery programme in Al Amarah continues under direction of Iraqi team members
Because of the unrest in southern Iraq, the members of the Salvation Army's international relief team have temporarily withdrawn from Al Amarah to their support base in Kuwait City. Although Salvation Army personnel have received no threats, the unsettled atmosphere and the difficulties they experienced in travelling to undertake project work in and around the town of Al Amarah have prompted this action. The team is grateful for the support given them by their locally employed team members and the community leaders.
The Salvation Army has been operational in Iraq since April 2003 and has played a major role in the recovery of Al Amarah since August 2003. Completed projects include refurbishing 3 clinics and over 40 schools, providing vocational skills training and education opportunities for hundreds of school children, installing street lighting, and undertaking many other construction activities that have improved water and sanitation supplies in the community. In partnership with other organisations the Army has assisted with distributions of large quantities of humanitarian supplies and the refurbishment of children's playgrounds. The Salvation Army is determined to press ahead with its successful recovery programme in Al Amarah and is therefore continuing its work through the local 20-person Iraqi team, who are presently staffing the operations. Incoming team leader Captain Bruce Coffey (NZ) and his wife Pauline, are in daily communication from Kuwait with the Iraqi team supervisor, and are closely monitoring developments.
This move to Kuwait City has enabled team members Jerry Larsen (USA), Lloyd Cooper (Canada) and Captain Simon Andrew (India), who were all due to complete their deployments in the near future, to be repatriated earlier than planned. Team administrator Major Philip Hendy has returned home to the UK for a short vacation.
Reported by Major Cedric Hills
International Emergency Services Coordinator
