CRS work in Iraq brings help to children, mothers

Published: 2004-02-05

SAN FRANCISCO (CNS) -- Kate Moynihan from Catholic Relief Services says not everyone where she works in Iraq is happy to see people from the United States, even those doing humanitarian work. On the other hand, she said, "not everyone is unhappy" either. The CRS veteran of 11 years told Catholic San Francisco, newspaper of the San Francisco Archdiocese, that despite the intermittent dangers of being in Iraq these days the truly heroic behavior began six years ago when CRS first sent a doctor there to provide infant care on a trial basis. The trial period made the needs there clear. A handful of CRS staffers elected to live in Iraq to launch a well-baby program three years ago. "It was not easy to initiate a project under (Iraqi President Saddam) Hussein's regime," Moynihan explained. "It took a lot of blood, sweat, tears, and clever negotiations to operate parallel to that government structure." The well-baby program is a supplemental feeding program for children and pregnant women, said Moynihan. By the end of 2002, the program had reached nearly 19,000 children and more than 11,000 pregnant and lactating women in nine areas of Iraq.

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