Last Aussie aid group flees Iraq

[Barrett808]

Last Aussie aid group flees Iraq
Cameron Stewart
November 19, 2004

THE last Australian aid agency in Iraq has pulled out of the country because it is too dangerous.

World Vision Australia will announce the indefinite suspension of its Iraq operations today, only days after the execution of Care Australia's Iraq director, Margaret Hassan.

The decision leaves only a handful of international aid agencies in the war-ravaged country, following the departure of Care and Medecins Sans Frontieres from Iraq in recent weeks.

"Due to an increase in violent activity, World Vision has decided it is impossible to continue its work in the current insecure environment," the agency's emergency relief chief, Geoff Shepherd, told The Australian.

World Vision made the decision to leave Iraq before Ms Hassan's kidnapping, but delayed any announcement while she was held hostage.

(more)

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,11431282%255E2702,00.html