Dec. 22, 1998

Baghdad, Iraq … [ANN] After air attacks on Iraq that began at 10 p.m. GMT on December 16, leaders of the Seventh-day Adventist Church report that members are unharmed and the church buildings and offices in Baghdad are intact.

Basim Aziz, president of the Adventist Church in Iraq, who is currently in Jordan, reports that he has been in regular contact with Adventists after the bombings.

“Friday night was the worst of the three nights of bombing,” says Aziz. “Missiles rained on Baghdad and other places in Iraq. Nine big targets in Baghdad alone were destroyed completely, among them a cotton factory. Our church members started the Sabbath (Saturday) meeting in the church as usual, and all the members were present for the services.”

Local church leaders in Iraq report that water and electricity supplies have not been hit. However the military action is expected to have a devastating effect on an already damaged country.

“Eight years of embargo have hurt the country’s economy,” says one Iraqi church leader. “The bombardment taking place will devastate the country completely. Four hospitals were hit, two private and two government ones. The oil refinery in Basra (the main city in south Iraq) was destroyed. Iraq used to sell oil from that refinery to cover many of its expenses. No one can predict how Iraq will fare after the bombardment is over. We are waiting for the end of the strikes to see what the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) can do if it is permitted by the Iraqi government to work in Iraq.” [Roland Fidelia]

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