What can I do to help Iraqi civilians?

While I support the war to end the current Iraqi regime, I also feel horrible that Iraqi civilians are suffering because of the Allies’ incursion into their nation. It’s no comfort to have a brutal dictatorship overthrown if you lose your legs or your child or your life in the process. I’d like to find some way to show Iraqis and the Arab world in general that the American people do care about their welfare.

I could contribute to the Red Cross or to an Islamic charity but then that money would just be part of the general fund and would not show a specifically American source. I’d like to find an American, non-religious charity that would help feed, clothe, and shelter the Iraqi people.

Doesn’t the Red Cross have a working relationship with the Red Crescent? There may be an avenue there.

Care, Save the Children, etc. also come to mind.

Yes, but as I said, I want to find a venue that shows that contributions come specifically from Americans and not from some faceless NGO.

The only way to overcome the hatred engendered against us is to show active concern for the welfare of others from the American people.

gobear You are truly a gem. I think that more of us pro-war (for want of a better term) became involved with helping the Irqi people it would put our motives in a better light with the anti crowd.

Second on the Red Cross. Of the private actors, the RC does the heavy lifting in a humanitarian crisis like this one. One of the best charities, IMO.

I have a few ideas, but they are unfit for this forum. Unfortunatly, the hardliners in Iraq are going to make it very difficult to safeguard these non-combatants. They will eventually force them to fight, or stand inbetween the lines, or simply eliminate them if they refuse to do either or not support the regime. The civilian population is in a world of hurt, and it won’t come from coalition bombs.


Fagjunk Theology: Not just for sodomite propagandists anymore.

gobear, you and I are starting to parallel each other. I started a thread on this topic about a week ago.

Americares
International Rescue Committee
World Food Program

I don’t recommend any of the above links; they are provided for informational purposes only. I can’t recommend the Red Cross just because I have heard too many stories about its high overhead and administrative costs siphoning off aid.

As an aside, what’s happened to all the stuff that was donated to NYC after 9/11 that was unusable? Any of that lying about that could be shipped over to Iraq?