Family report NZ man missing in Iraq

By KEVIN TAYLOR and RENEE KIRIONA

A New Zealand family have approached the Government for help in finding their son, who they believe has disappeared in Iraq.

Andreas Schafer from New Plymouth is believed to have vanished in the past two weeks.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said the ministry had received an inquiry from a New Zealand family suggesting a relative might have been detained by the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq.

The latest development came as New Zealand soldiers in Iraq, who had been confined to their base camp since an increase in violence in the past few days, were expected to resume reconstruction work overnight.

Despite this, Prime Minister Helen Clark said yesterday that the Army engineers could be recalled from Iraq if violence there stopped them from working for extended periods.

Information about Mr Schafer remained sketchy yesterday. His mother, Ursula Schafer, confirmed her son was missing but said she did not want to comment.

She said the family did not want to go public yet because they were private people.

The ministry spokesman said inquiries through Washington and London established that they had no information about Mr Schafer.

"We advised the family to file a missing person report with Interpol through the New Zealand police and they did so."

The ministry had no clear information that he had been detained or kidnapped anywhere in Iraq, or that a ransom had been demanded for his release.

A spokesman for Helen Clark said last night that she knew only as much as the ministry knew and could add nothing.

Earlier, the ministry repeated its longstanding advice that New Zealanders should not travel to Iraq and that civilians there should leave.

"The current wave of hostage-taking underlines the extreme risk that foreigners face throughout Iraq."

Because of the security situation and lack of representation in Iraq, the Government's ability to help any New Zealand civilians who got into trouble was severely limited.

"Moreover, with the conflict, medical facilities are limited and normal insurance cover is not available." Meanwhile, a New Zealand aid worker who had withdrawn from Iraq to Kuwait might have to return to the war-torn country.

Salvation Army volunteers Bruce and Pauline Coffey, of Mt Eden, had been working in Iraq for about a week when they left for Kuwait three days ago because of the violence.

But getting pay-packets to more than 40 of the organisation's Iraqi employees and contractors in Al Amarah, 350km southeast of Baghdad, could see Mr Coffey going back. "It's critical for them to get paid. They don't have any reserves like us and I'm keen to make sure our commitment to them is met. They get very upset if they don't get paid," Mr Coffey said last night from Kuwait.

Plans were under way to enter Iraq yesterday but the Salvation Army's head office in London had told their aid workers to hold back until it was safe, Mr Coffey said.

Mr Coffey is a former Navy man, prison officer and former director of the Auckland Bridge Centre, an alcohol and drug rehabilitation service.

His daughter, Rochelle Le Pou, said she last communicated with her parents on Monday morning via email.

"Dad told me in that email that there was a possibility he might have to go back into Iraq and that Mum would stay in Kuwait.

"Sometimes I get a little worried about them but then it's our belief that God will look after them."

When it is deemed safe to enter Iraq, the Coffeys will join Salvation Army teams from around the world to help rebuild 15 schools, upgrade sewerage and water systems.

- Additional reporting: Bridget Carter


Herald Feature: Iraq