Story number 1 for 14 Mar 2003

(Jordan)–Topping the news, grave concerns mark World Vision’s attentiveness over the increasing likelihood of war against Iraq. The Christian aid agency is pushing ahead with their response in the event of a humanitarian crisis throughout the region. World Vision’s Steve Matthews stressed their focus on preparedness. “Now that things seem to be heating up a fair bit, we made a decision that we could access some of our major relief supplies that we had pre-positioned in the area. We airlifted 40 tons of relief supplies from Brindisi (Italy) to Amman (Jordan).” Matthews points out that they’re providing for physical needs, but, in the ravages of war, it’s spiritual needs that come to the surface. To that end, he says, “All of our staff is Christian, and all of us carry with us a Christian ethos which sort of drives us, and that’s the impetus that makes us do the work that we do. So, if it rubs off in some way in the field, then so be it, and I know that it often does.”