NZ Red Cross considers team for Iraq

The New Zealand Red Cross is considering sending an aid team to Iraq to help give humanitarian aid.

An announcement by Foreign Affairs Minister Phil Goff yesterday that the Government would to give an extra $1 million to the Red Cross for emergency relief work in Iraq included a proposal to fund the medical team, Red Cross national president Patricia O'Brien said.

New Zealand Red Cross operations manager Andrew McKie said a decision on whether to send a team would be made in liaison with the International Committee of the Red Cross in Geneva over the next 10 days.

Yesterday's funding announced is in addition to $500,000 that has already been given to the Red Cross in the Government's $3.3 million package for emergency relief in Iraq.

Mr Goff said if the medical team was not considered viable, the full $1 million would go to the International Red Cross."

- NZPA

Herald Feature: Iraq war