Citing Risks, Aid Group Leaves Iraq

A Christian relief agency with operations in some of the world’s riskiest areas said Friday that it had pulled out of Iraq.

“It’s just too dangerous,” said Dean Owen, a spokesman for World Vision, which had 50 to 75 workers in Iraq providing supplies to needy families and helping to rebuild hospitals and schools. There were no American workers.

The agency withdrew 19 staff members from Iraq last month. Most foreign aid agencies also pulled out after the kidnapping of two Italian aid workers, who were later freed.

Washington-based World Vision had been reducing staff in Iraq since the beginning of the year but decided it would evacuate after its Iraqi head of operations, Mohammed Hushiar, was killed Sept. 29 in Mosul by unknown gunmen.

Then, on Oct. 19, British aid worker Margaret Hassan, 59, was kidnapped in Baghdad, where she worked for another aid organization, CARE International. She is believed to be dead.

Kidnappers have taken scores of foreigners hostage since April and killed at least 35 of them.