Care suspends Iraqi assistance following Hassan kidnapping

The international aid agency, Care, has suspended its activities in Iraq following the kidnapping of one of its senior staff yesterday.

Margaret Hassan, Care's country director in Iraq, was abducted yesterday morning in Baghdad.

Care, which has been providing humanitarian relief in Iraq since the first Gulf War in 1991, said that under the circumstances it had decided to "temporarily suspend its Iraq programmes".

Care International has said that it has set up a special team of senior staff to deal with the situation, and "all relevant avenues" are being pursued to secure the release of Mrs Hassan who is an Iraqi citizen and is married to an Iraqi.

Margaret Hassan has been providing humanitarian relief with non-government organisations to the people of Iraq for much of her life there, the charity said.

Her humanitarian work has helped "the poorest and neediest Iraqis" for 25 years. Her work has also assisted women and children with health care, rebuilding hospitals and providing water and sanitation services.

In a statement the aid agency said: "For the last decade, despite all the problems and dangers, Margaret has implemented humanitarian programmes in Iraq through Care International. Care is an independent, non-governmental agency. Margaret has had no involvement with the war, other than trying to assist people throughout the conflict. Before the war, she was outspoken in warning of the potential humanitarian cost of any military action."

It added: "We are hopeful she will soon be released to continue to help the Iraqi people to rebuild their lives."

(gmcg/mb)