Another collection of winter clothing is being assembled urgently for displaced people in Iraq. "Deadline at St Mary's Church, Rye is January 27," says Janet Waddams, Rye Churches Together co-ordinator. "Please let all your friends and relations know so that we can send as much as possible. As before the clothes and bedding MUST be in really good condition – nothing that you would not wear yourself!"
The Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East (FRRME) is partnering with Samara's Aid Appeal to send urgently needed winter aid to Iraq where an estimated 8.2 million people need humanitarian assistance, of which 3.7 million are children. With sub-zero temperatures recently recorded, what is needed most of all is winter clothes.
In her latest message, Samara Levy, founder of Samara's Aid Appeal, said: "Snow has been falling in Northern Iraq where some of the 3.2 million internally displaced people (IDP) are sheltering from Islamic State and the continuing conflict. In recent weeks, temperatures have dropped as low as -11 degrees but despite this, many children don't even have shoes".
"Since I sent the first email I sent asking for clothes in August 2014," she continued, "you have helped us to achieve these amazing results:
- send 34 lorries and containers of aid to Iraq, Syria and Jordan
- send five ambulances to Syria (four more leaving shortly)
- send 850 care packs for post natal women, babies and families
- send 1750 first aid kits to Syria
- send a range of urgently needed medical equipment to Syria (defibrillators, ventilators, anaesthetic machines and surgical equipment etc.)".
This latest collection will be the third contribution from Rye towards this humanitarian relief. Samara Levy will be visiting Rye Baptist Church in Cinque Ports Street on Wednesday January 20, to give a talk on her work at 7 pm at which all are welcome. This will be followed by the annual meeting for business of Churches Together, which starts at 8pm.
