Leaders of the Anglican, Catholic, Methodist and Presbyterian churches, along with the Quakers, have addressed their members in an Open Letter encouraging them to support their agencies.

Caritas and Christian World Service are both working through local partner groups inside Syria and Iraq, as well as in neighbouring countries.

The global community needs to step up their efforts to ensure food, water and other essential supplies are distributed to the most vulnerable in the country,” says Julianne Hickey, Director of Caritas.

Caritas and Christian World Service partners are providing vital aid to Syrian refugees in Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon, including food, fuel, water, warm clothing, shelter and healthcare.

“Local people are working effectively and compassionately to help Syrian and Iraqi families. They need more resources to help more people,” says Pauline McKay, National Director of Christian World Service.

“The Open Letter has been signed by Rt Rev. Andrew Norton of the Presbyterian Church, Archbishop Philip Richardson of the Anglican Church, Cardinal John Dew of the Roman Catholic Church, Yearly Clerk Elizabeth Duke for the Quakers, and President Tovia Aumua of the Methodist Church.

• Donations to Caritas can be made on line at http://www.caritas.org.nz/donate by phone: 0800 22 10 22 or by post to: Caritas, PO Box 12193, Wellington 6144
• Donations to Christian World Service can be made on line at http://cws.org.nz/donate by phone: 0800 74 73 72 or by post to: CWS, PO Box 22652, Christchurch 8140.

Source

• Supplied Peace Movement Aotearoa
• Image: Caritas

Peace Movement Aotearoa have put a question on the their Facebook page and they are inviting comment:

"Speaking of democacry, or lack of to be more precise, what do you think of the idea that combat forces can decide when and where to deploy themselves and how long to stay there?"

Click here to read or comment on the question

PMA is responding to an editorial in Wednesday's New Zealand Herald which states

"New Zealand's highly respected troops should stay there for as long as they think it worthwhile. They are in the thick of it, they know what they are doing and should be allowed to see it through."

The soldiers are due to come home next March. "It will be not be a day too soon for those such as the Labour Party and Greens who think the mission serves only the interests of the Karzai regime," says the editorial writer, "But the soldiers must see it differently. They will have come to know Kabul citizens and have some sense of their predicament."

Read the Editorial
Image: StrikeHold