Religious Groups Call for Humanitarian, Economic Surge to Help End War in Iraq
Letter to Congress Urges Lawmakers to address 2007 funding gap for Iraq-related relief and development in Emergency Supplemental
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
(Washington, D.C.) – In a letter delivered to Congress today, eighteen faith-based organizations joined nationally-respected aid agencies, human rights groups in urging Congress to support an immediate surge in relief and development aid to Iraq. The list of 40 national organizations represents a broad range of constituencies and includes groups that opposed the U.S. invasion of Iraq as well as groups that did not.
The letter was initiated by the Iraq Peace and Development Working Group (IPDWG), a newly-formed NGO working group advocating policy improvements to reduce human suffering and conflict in Iraq. The letter’s recommendations reflect broad consensus among national advocacy groups, faith-based organizations, and operational humanitarian agencies involved in life-saving relief efforts in Iraq and the Gulf region.
The groups are asking Congress to halt the decline in aid to Iraq, as recommended by the Iraq Study Group, by adding $440 million to the President’s $99.6 billion supplemental budget request. That would address a critical funding gap of $290 million needed for refugee assistance, resettlement and internally displaced persons. It would also provide an additional $150 million to restore full funding for community-based development, efforts to strengthen Iraqi civil society, conflict resolution strategies, and the advancement of human rights and rule of law.
The letter states: “Through effective relief and development, the U.S. can help improve the social welfare and security of the Iraqi people. Moreover, economic progress that creates meaningful jobs and opportunities for the people of Iraq can play a pivotal role in ending the conflict.”
Recent polls suggest strong public recognition that America’s military role in Iraq is limited in what it can achieve. A CBS/New York Times poll conducted in late February indicates 70% of Americans polled say that the U.S. military cannot do much to lessen the fighting between groups of Iraqis. Top military commanders in Iraq have expressed similar concern. The letter quotes Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. military commander in Iraq, who recently testified to the Senate that, without a military solution to Iraq, success requires progress in the Iraqi political and economic arenas.
The additional funding would represent a small fraction of the supplemental request yet help millions of displaced Iraqis, compensate thousands of families harmed in the conflict, create 100,000s jobs, and support ongoing USAID programs with proven track records.
To read the letter, click here.
Spokespeople available for comment include:
Simone Campbell, Executive Director of NETWORK: A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby
Jim Winkler, General Secretary of the General Board of Church and Society of The United Methodist Church
Please contact Katie Barge at Faith in Public Life 202-481-8147, kbarge@faithinpubliclife.org to arrange interviews with Campbell, Winkler, or sources from other religious organizations that signed onto the letter.
The following are the religious organizations that signed the letter. For a full list of organizations that signed the letter, click here.
Alliance of Baptists
American Friends Service Committee (AFSC)
Call to Action (CTA)
Church of the Brethren Witness/Washington Office
Conference of Major Superiors of Men (CMSM)
Franciscan Friars (OFM) Holy Name Province
Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL)
General Board of Church and Society of The United Methodist Church (GBCS-UMC)
Global Ministries of the United Church of Christ and Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR)
Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns
Mennonite Central Committee Washington Office
Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC)
National Council of Churches USA (NCC)
NETWORK: A Catholic Social Justice Lobby
Pax Christi USA
Presbyterian Church (USA) Washington Office
Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations
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Faith in Public Life is a communications and organizing resource center for faith leaders sharing a call to pursue justice and the common good. Faith in Public Life is a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) organization.
CONTACT: Katie Barge, Faith in Public Life, 202-481-8147, kbarge@faithinpubliclife.org Emily Leaman, EPIC (202) 543-6176, eleaman@epic-usa.org
