Middle East Update 18 June 2014
Dear Friends,
The crisis in Iraq has now been in operation for over a week. Not hundreds but thousands of people have been killed. Thousands in the Iraqi army have been killed, the military have proved that they do not have the ability or authority to control the present crisis. Whilst the crisis continues causing total havoc we do not have the privilege of just sitting back and doing nothing. We have to think beyond today, whilst providing the immediate relief that is needed we also need to think about how we are going to bring about lasting change.
In the midst of this crisis we are already thinking of the long term plans to work for reconciliation. It is a process that we have been involved intimately in for over a decade but now we are faced with a crisis of new depth. We cannot even get access to most places where we need to bring people together. We plan and pray that we will be able to again soon, at the moment this is not possible but can only hope and pray that soon we will be able to.
At the moment the crisis and division is getting worse. Even embassy's are cutting down size and leaving Iraq. At the moment it is even considered too dangerous for us to be present. We hope to return in the next few days and have so much to do. The Anglican Church is one of the few bodies working in Iraq reaching out to people whatever their religion and sect.
Meanwhile the intense conversations continue each day with political and religious leaders working at how we can overcome the radical influence of the terrorist group ISIS which is now the richest and most powerful terrorist group in the world with over $1 billion. At the moment our priority is meeting the physical relief needs of those in the crisis. We then start working on the complex reconciliation process. When that will be we do not yet know.
In the midst of this crisis we are already thinking of the long term plans to work for reconciliation. It is a process that we have been involved intimately in for over a decade but now we are faced with a crisis of new depth. We cannot even get access to most places where we need to bring people together. We plan and pray that we will be able to again soon, at the moment this is not possible but can only hope and pray that soon we will be able to.
At the moment the crisis and division is getting worse. Even embassy's are cutting down size and leaving Iraq. At the moment it is even considered too dangerous for us to be present. We hope to return in the next few days and have so much to do. The Anglican Church is one of the few bodies working in Iraq reaching out to people whatever their religion and sect.
Meanwhile the intense conversations continue each day with political and religious leaders working at how we can overcome the radical influence of the terrorist group ISIS which is now the richest and most powerful terrorist group in the world with over $1 billion. At the moment our priority is meeting the physical relief needs of those in the crisis. We then start working on the complex reconciliation process. When that will be we do not yet know.
With much love and grace,
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