Story number 1 for 11 Apr 2003

(Iraq/Jordan) — Headlining today’s news, the refugee crisis in Iraq has NOT materialized and now organizations are preparing to move into Iraq when it’s safe to do so. World Vision‘s Steve Matthews says the plan was to deal with the war victims needs in two phases. “Phase one was to deal with refugees in some of the six countries surrounding Iraq. But, as I say there hasn’t been very many, probably not more than a thousand or so. Phase two of World Vision’s program is go inside Iraq and it looks like World Vision is probably going to be working in an area that is Biblically known as Ninevah.” The assistance is presented as a gift from God. Matthews is asking people to pray. “I think you can pray specifically for the safety of the aid workers over here, because when we do go inside Iraq — that is the most volatile moment for us because there will be a vacuum inside Iraq. It’s expected there will be very volatile situations.”