Church ‘sheltering’ from bombs in Baghdad

-28/3/2003

As military action continues, reports are emerging from throughout Iraq of the plight of the 3% of the

Church ‘sheltering’ from bombs in Baghdad

-28/3/2003

As military action continues, reports are emerging from throughout Iraq of the plight of the 3% of the Iraqi population who are Christian.

The international Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need has warned that the situation in the country is growing critical.

It said Christians had been sheltering in churches and pastoral centres in Baghdad.

Quoting a message from Bishop Kassah of Basra it said the situation in the city was “dramatic” because water and power supplies had broken down and even the most basic medicines were unavailable. “At present there is no way of getting aid supplies into this region.”

A representative of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) in Baghdad, has also said that the Chaldean Catholic church was damaged during a military strike on the city.

He added however that the church was not the intended target and that no one was hurt.

The second biggest Christian community in Iraq based in the city of Mosul, in the north of the country, has also has to shelter from a contined bombing campaign by Allied forces.

Church ‘sheltering’ from bombs in Baghdad

-28/3/2003

As military action continues, reports are emerging from throughout Iraq of the plight of the 3% of the Iraqi population who are Christian.

The international Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need has warned that the situation in the country is growing critical.

It said Christians had been sheltering in churches and pastoral centres in Baghdad.

Quoting a message from Bishop Kassah of Basra it said the situation in the city was “dramatic” because water and power supplies had broken down and even the most basic medicines were unavailable. “At present there is no way of getting aid supplies into this region.”

A representative of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) in Baghdad, has also said that the Chaldean Catholic church was damaged during a military strike on the city.

He added however that the church was not the intended target and that no one was hurt.

The second biggest Christian community in Iraq based in the city of Mosul, in the north of the country, has also has to shelter from a contined bombing campaign by Allied forces.