Iraq aid cash appeal launches

Iraq aid cash appeal launches

A UN aid worker checks supplies

Convoys of aid organised by Wrexham-based charity workers are waiting on the border of Iraq.

Dave Cooke, who founded the Operation Christmas Child charity, said a warehouse of supplies in Jordan is also ready.

And he said trucks will roll into the war zone - once the bombing ends.

An appeal for money to buy more urgently-needed supplies is being launched.

The charity does not need equipment or supplies as they can buy in bulk.

More water filtration systems - called water bladders - and medical supplies will be bought at the best price and transported into Iraq, said Mr Cooke.

"It is frustrating that we cannot get in because it is always the woman and children who suffer in these situations," said Mr Cooke, who founded the charity in 1990.

The charity joined forces with Samaritan's Purse International and both work closely with Oxfam and others to maximise aid effort.

"At the moment all we can do is sit tight, we might go anywhere - that might be Basra or other cities," said Mr Cooke.

UN clearance

Charity staff will wait for UN relief workers to tell them where to go.

Mr Cooke said the work of the charity, which operates out of Wrexham's Whitegate Industrial Estate, is world-wide.

Their missions have also seen aid going to Kosovo, the Sudan and Afghanistan.

Their focus on Iraq was decided at the end of February - but the work in other areas of the world still continues.

"I was in Afghanistan, we helped build a women's centre and medical centres," said Mr Cooke.

Their usual aid programme for European countries means trucks usually go out with aid.

But with Iraq the bombing means a different approach.

"It's not like in Romania, we won't just drive out there with a van.

"We are talking out cities being involved, we may have to fly out specialist equipment, if we have to do that we will."

United Nations experts from their World Food Programme has warned Iraq is facing a humanitarian crisis.

Food and clean water supplies are desperately needed, say the UN.