SEATTLE -- This morning, as a severe
sand storm swept through the Ruwayshed refugee camp in Jordan, World Concern
and Food for the Hungry gave a grant to a local partner for a number of
small-scale health emergency needs in Baghdad. The funds will be sent immediately
into Iraq to provide quick assistance for Iraqis, mostly in the capital
Baghdad. The grants will be followed in a few days by a team of Jordanians,
who will conduct an initial assessment of humanitarian needs within Iraq.
Meanwhile, World Concern's relief manager,
Peter Sundt, reported that a severe windstorm destroyed many tents at a
refugee camp in Jordan today. No one has been injured by the storm, but
some of the children have been treated for respiratory problems. "By
2:00 a.m.," reported Peter, "all of the women and children were
moved to the kitchen tent to shelter them from the wind. The men were in
the warehouse tent. There was almost no visibility as the wind driven sand
came into every seam. Many of the smaller tents were completely flattened.
By 4:00 a.m., all staff and refugees moved into busses. Cold meals are
being provided until the kitchen tent can be repaired." World Concern
is partnering with local partners to manage the food sector of this camp.
More than 400 people, both staff and refugees, worked together throughout the night to weather the storm. Significant damage occurred to many smaller tents and to some of the larger storage tents. The weather report calls for this storm to last well into tomorrow.
As of April 3, a total of 1,213 refugees have passed through the camp at Ruwayshed. 948 have moved on to their home countries. Currently, 22 children under age 5 live in the camp, as do 43 children between the ages of 5 and 18.
Seattle-based World Concern has been providing life, opportunity and hope to families in need worldwide since 1955. For more information or to make a donation, please call (800) 755-5022 or visit www.worldconcern.org. Gifts by check or money order can also be mailed to World Concern, Iraq Refugee Relief, 19303 Fremont Ave. N., Seattle, WA 98133.