Washington has failed to deliver promised aid, says cardinal

The head of Iraq’s Chaldean Catholic Church said on Tuesday that US aid promised for religious minorities in Iraq had not been given.

Cardinal Louis Raphael I Sako’s unusual public criticism of the US came on the same day Washington announced more assistance.

Cardinal Sako spoke at a Vatican briefing as Mark Green, the USaid administrator, was there for talks, Mr Green announced a near doubling of funding to about US$300 million (Dh1.1 billion) since last year.

“There are promises but the reality is that there’s been nothing up to now,” Cardinal Sako said.

“Today, we need to help and encourage Christians to remain in place, help them to find work, repair their homes, give them hope.

“Emptying these places is a mortal sin, truly.”

Hungary said it had provided $5m in direct assistance to repair Christian homes, schools and churches in Iraq and Syria, rather than take in refugees.

Cardinal Sako was asked if he was referring to complaints about missing aid from US Catholic charities or the American government.

“I am speaking about the policy of America,” he said. “Americans are very nice and very friendly as individuals but the policy is wrong.”

It was not immediately clear if he was referring to the US’s overall policy in the region, but he suggested that the US invasion of Iraq, which led to years of instability and the birth of ISIS, was responsible for the exodus of Iraqi Christians from communities that have existed since the time of Jesus.

“We Christians of the Middle East, if we leave we will have lost our identities, our tradition and our patrimony, which is very, very rich,” Cardinal Sako said.

“America, up to now, hasn’t done anything. But we hope.”

Mr Green was just beginning his visit to the Vatican and the US State Department said a new grant of $178m had been allocated to help religious minorities in Iraq.

He was scheduled to meet Mr Sako yesterday and they were expected to discuss the agency’s work to help the religious minorities, including projects with the Chaldean Church and Mr Sako’s diocese.

Mr Green said US funds were being channelled through 36 local, 11 faith-based and 27 international organisations to help preserve Iraqi culture, prevent future atrocities and help with economic recovery.

The US is working with the Catholic group Knights of Columbus to identify those in need.

Mr Green said one concrete example of US funds at work was in the town of Bashiqa in Iraq’s Nineveh Plains.

There, he said, the funds had helped to repair homes and wells, financed medical units and increased security around schools to enable families to return.

Cardinal Louis Raphael I Sako spoke as USaid’s administrator was at the Vatican for talks