Iraq Facts • Languages: Arabic, Kurdish, Assyrian/Chaldean • Life Expectancy: 66.5 years • GDP per Capita (US): $2,195 • Literacy Rate: 58% • Population: 31.2 million • Government: Developing Parliamentary Republic • Religions: Islam 97%, Christianity & other: 3%

Background: Iraq

In 2008, Iraq was the world's fifth most unstable country. Recent years have seen the removal of the former president, establishment of a parliamentary democracy, official recognition and widespread political participation by Iraq's Kurdish minority and by Shi'ite Arab majority, increased civil violence, destruction of existing infrastructure, and persecution of Christian minorities.

Unemployment, along with an inflation rate of 70% has lead to nearly 5.6 million Iraqis living below the poverty line. The living conditions of at least 40% of this number is desperate. These factors are leading to further instability, violence and terrorism.

International Teams' Involvement

Under the direction of Iraqi native, Insaf Safou, International Teams encourages pastors and Christian leaders through home church visits, builds up marginalized women through a women's conference, ministers to refugees and IDPs (internally displaced people), and assists the poor with gifts of food, clothing and medicine.

Program Leaders Insaf Safou Canadian Program Leader insaf.safou@iteams.org Undisclosed Name Iraqi Program Leader Gary Sharpe, P.Eng. Director, International Programs gary.sharpe@iteams.org

Helping the Poor through Home Church Networks - Years of war in Baghdad has resulted in families at risk, single mothers struggling to care for their children, a rise in disease, and an elderly population desperate for care. In partnership with "Home Church Ministries", a local church in Baghdad, a small group of Catholic nuns in Ninevah Plain, and door-to-door ministry, International Teams visits the poorest Iraqi families and individuals, praying with them and caring for them by providing emotional, spiritual and financial help including baskets of food, clothing and money for medical care.

Building Up Widows and Marginalized Women - Women have been particularly hard hit since the beginning of the Iraq war and are hungry for a message of healing and value in God's eyes. To meet this need, the Baghdad church organizes an annual women's conference that ministers through teaching, worship and fellowship. Canadian Program Leader Insaf Safou serves as the keynote speaker, supplemented by local leaders, and encouraged by local pastors. Plans are in place for this conference to be tailored to IDP women and repeated in Dohok, Kurdistan.

Help for Refugees and Internally Displaced People - As a result of war, the civilian population in Iraq currently faces one of the most complex and violent situations in the world. An estimated 8 million Iraqi civilians need urgent assistance, including about 4 million without a consistent source of food, 2 million IDPs (internally displaced) and 2 million Iraqi refugees.

Two million IDPs within Iraq has severely strained infrastructure and resources creating a serious humanitarian crisis that affects both the individuals and the host communities in which they seek refuge.

How Your Investment Will Build This Community • Cost to support relief work in Baghdad: $4000/year • Cost to support the poor in the Ninevah Plain: $1000/year • Cost to support women's conference: $750/year • Support this ministry with a gift to be used where most needed: $20/month

Refugees experience a loss of dignity and value when they flee to a foreign country or region where it's difficult to navigate even the simplest of life tasks. Despite this experience, some find Jesus on their journey. Impact Iraq's focus is to reveal God's love to IDPs who have fled to the northern part of Iraq through prayer, counseling, emergency financial help, long-term friendship and occasional gifts.

International Teams plans to begin an income generating sewing project in Dohok, Kurdistan, using a business model that has been tried successfully in neighbouring Syria. Handbags and Bible covers will be created by the IDPs to provide a source of ongoing income. Profits will be used to expand the business and continue the ministry to other refugees.

Support of Pastors and Christian Leaders - Since the beginning of the Iraq war in 2003, Bibles and Christian literature are now available in Iraq, new churches have sprung up, and the 3% Christian population is growing. Still, Iraqi Christians feel isolated. Some leaders suffer persecution, extortion, are forced out of their homes, become refugees, or even face death. International Teams offers emotional and spiritual support to weary church pastors and their wives through prayer, counseling, biblical teaching and partnership with their ministries.

Beyond the Borders of Iraq - International Teams is building relationships and ministering to Iraqi refugees in Turkey, Syria and Jordan. Toronto is also a focal point for Iraqi ministry, as many Iraqi refugees arrive in Canada with little support. International Teams works by counseling newcomers, supporting pastors, providing for basic needs, organizing prayer groups and home-based Bible study groups and by building bridges between Iraqi Canadians and those suffering hardships in Iraq.