Salvation Army Reconnoitres in Iraq

Salvation Army Reconnoitres in Iraq

Two Salvation Army officers on a reconnaissance trip to Iraq have signed up US$500,000 of new community development projects to help Iraqis.

Kiwi Captain Bruce Coffey and fellow officer Major Cedric Hills spent much of the weekend in Al Amarah meeting with the 20 local staff who continue the day-to-day operation of The Salvation Army’s work. They also signed contracts with the Coalition Provisional Authority to complete new projects including the construction of warehouses, offices and workshops aimed at regenerating the local agricultural industry.

‘The trip was quite uneventful and we made a lot of progress with the work that is on-going in Al Amarah,’ said Captain Coffey. ‘We are blessed with a great staff in Iraq and they are keeping things going very well.’

Salvation Army officers who oversee the community development programme in Iraq would normally be based in-country, but the ongoing unrest has seen them working from nearby Kuwait. Given the continuing security situation, The Salvation Army has decided to continue running its programme in Iraq ‘remotely’ from Kuwait.

Major Hills said that The Salvation Army was one of the few organisations whose local staff continued to implement and develop programmes in Al Amarah.

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