Major UK childrens charity pulls out of Iraq (Save the Children UK)

[Barrett808]

LONDON, March 1 (KUNA) -- A major British childrens charity has pulled out of Iraq, blaming the deteriorating security situation, it was announced here Thursday.

"Save the Children UK" closed its offices in Erbil, northern Iraq, yesterday, after operating in the country for 15 years.

The charity said in a statement the ongoing insurgency had made its work increasingly difficult and the decision to leave was taken "with great regret." It will continue to support Iraqi groups that help the country's children, eight percent of whom are believed to suffer from acute malnutrition.

Save the Children said "The decision is linked to the deteriorating security situation in significant areas of the country including the capital Baghdad, which makes it increasingly difficult for our work to make a significant impact on the lives of children." "Save the Children UK made the decision to withdraw from Iraq after much deliberation and with great regret." "We are however confident that after 15 years we are leaving behind a strong legacy that will continue to benefit Iraqi children and their families, " the statement added.

The charity said it always kept its options open to work anywhere in the world where it could help poor and marginalised children, but had no current plans to return to Iraq.

(more)

http://www.kuna.net.kw/Home/Story.aspx?Language=en&DSNO=957034

[uppityperson]

1. Major UK childrens charity pulls out of Iraq (Save the Children UK)

http://www.kuna.net.kw/Home/Story.aspx?Language=en&DSNO=957034

LONDON, March 1 (KUNA) -- A major British childrens charity has pulled out of Iraq, blaming the deteriorating security situation, it was announced here Thursday.

"Save the Children UK" closed its offices in Erbil, northern Iraq, yesterday, after operating in the country for 15 years. The charity said in a statement the ongoing insurgency had made its work increasingly difficult and the decision to leave was taken "with great regret." It will continue to support Iraqi groups that help the country's children, eight percent of whom are believed to suffer from acute malnutrition.

Save the Children said "The decision is linked to the deteriorating security situation in significant areas of the country including the capital Baghdad, which makes it increasingly difficult for our work to make a significant impact on the lives of children." "Save the Children UK made the decision to withdraw from Iraq after much deliberation and with great regret." "We are however confident that after 15 years we are leaving behind a strong legacy that will continue to benefit Iraqi children and their families, " the statement added.

The charity said it always kept its options open to work anywhere in the world where it could help poor and marginalised children, but had no current plans to return to Iraq.


Another major British charity "Christian Aid" said it was sorry to see Save the Children leave. Oliver Burch, Christian Aid's Iraq programme manager, said "The security situation is not good with considerable risks for Iraqis and even more for internationals trying to implement projects." "The failure of international forces to respect the neutrality of aid work has done much to increase the risk." "Christian Aid staff do not now travel to Iraq but continue to work through and fund Iraqi organisations, as we do all over the world, and we are tremendously impressed with the achievements of our Iraqi colleagues," Burch added. (end) he.

[Fresh_Start]

2. Didn't they get the Blair message about

how swimmingly Iraq is going?