Iris Herbal Products - Help Send Humanitarian Aid To Iraq

When the US bombed a hospital in Falluja and seized another, leveled virtually the entire city, killed hundreds of desperate civilians, refused to let humanitarian aid workers into the city, and left an estimated 50,000 civilians without water, electricity and food, we knew we had to do something - fast - because Falluja is just one terrifying example of the escalating devastation in Iraq.

Last week, we received an urgent message about the dire conditions in Fallujah and the desperate need for supplies from journalist Dahr Jamail, who has been risking his life to get the truth out about the this tragedy to the American people. We sent out a call for your help and from every part of the country you responded with warmth and generosity. Because of you, $30,000 has already been sent to Iraq and we have gathered hundreds of pounds of supplies to take on the delegation that will be leaving December 26, 2004.

Here is the latest report from Dahr on how the money you donated has already helped save lives and bring warmth and comfort to thousands of refugees, especially the children:

Dear Code Pink,

Here is a report on how the money has been spent: -- blankets, warm clothing, and food distributed to 4 mosques around Baghdad, which are then distributing the supplies to four different refugee camps they are responsible for.

-- portable heaters, cooking stoves, stove and heater fuel to the refugee camp near the Al-Amiryah mosque. These supplies have been critical to help the refugees cope with the cold. We plan to buy more of these, since the need is so great.

-- antibiotics, needles, sterile gloves, pain medications, gauze, and basic first aid materials. These have been distributed to three different refugee camps by a group of doctors dealing with the emergency health crisis in the camps.

-- water tanks, pipes, water pumps, water purification materials.

These have gone to one camp in Baghdad, and we need much more of this as clean water and heat remain the greatest needs.

Tomorrow one of our team members is going to the worst camp, up in Saqlawiya near Fallujah, and she will bring me back a lists of the most urgent needs for the families there.

The doctors buying the medications work with a medical distribution company here, and are buying the meds at below wholesale cost. We are getting an incredible amount of medications for the money we spend on them.

All the money is going directly to the refugees, because we aren't paying any of the docs or volunteers. I offered to pay them, but none of them would accept. They say this is the very least they can do to help their brothers and sisters in Fallujah.

It has been like managing a hurricane, the needs and devastation are so intense. But we're one of the only groups doing this and people are thanking us and crying everywhere we go. It is a desperate situation, but we can easily say that this aid is making a huge difference in the lives of the refugees, particularly the children--who are the most vulnerable.

Please thank all the people who have donated for their generosity and kindness."

Solidarity,
Dahr

We can't let this face of devastation be the only face that the Iraqi people, and the world community, see from the American people. We must show that there are kind, compassionate Americans who are appalled by this violence and want to help - not kill - the Iraqi people.

So we have put together a delegation of parents who lost loved ones in Iraq and on 9/11, as well as health care workers, to take a shipment of humanitarian aid to the people of Iraq. This delegation will take desperately needed medical supplies to the Iraqi/Jordanian border, where we will meet with Iraqi humanitarian aid organizations that will take the supplies to Falluja and other places in need.

We plan to leave for Jordan on December 27, 2004 and usher in the New Year with this gesture of solidarity BUT we need your help in raising money to make this happen.

Here's what you can do NOW:

1. DONATE NOW securely online and ask your friends, family and co-workers to MATCH your donation.
Please visit: http://codepink.kintera.org/helpiraqis - Or send checks made out to:
'Help Iraqis/Global Exchange'
2017 Mission St. #303
San Francisco, CA 94110

2. SPREAD the word about the Humanitarian Delegation and the recent events in Iraq. For the latest info on Iraq, please visit and sign up to Occupation Watch at: www.occupationwatch.org

3. FORWARD this email on to everyone you know and challenge them to MEET or BEAT your pledge when they take action for the people of Iraq.

Thank you friends--your generosity is ever inspiring, Andrea, Carol, Claire, Dana, Gael, Jodie, Medea, Nancy, Sue, Tiffany

www.codepinkalert.org