MEDIA ADVISORY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 4, 2008

CONTACT: Stephanie Niedringhaus, 202-347-9797 x224, sniedringhaus@networklobby.org

Media Alert: Congressional Briefing on Iraqi Refugee Crisis Presented by Catholic Sisters

WHEN: Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2008 at 2:00 PM

WHERE:   U.S. Capitol, Room HC-8

WHO: Members of Catholic Sisters Delegation to Refugee Centers in Middle East

• Sister Simone Campbell, SSS, Executive Director, NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby
• Sister Anne Curtis, RSM, Member, Sisters of Mercy of the Americas Leadership Team

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Having just returned from a ten-day fact-finding trip to the Middle East, Sister Simone Campbell, SSS, NETWORK Executive Director, and Sister Anne Curtis, RSM, will present information about the current situation of Iraqi refugees in the region. There are currently more than 1.5 million Iraqi refugees in Syria and more than 50,000 in Lebanon.

The two women religious were part of a delegation of eight Catholic Sisters sponsored by Catholic Relief Services (CRS) who met with Iraqi refugees, Christian and Islamic leaders, representatives of religious and civil NGOs, U.S. diplomatic personnel, a Syrian Parliament Member, and UNHCR regional representatives.

They will present firsthand accounts of refugees’ current living conditions, along with recommendations for how the U.S. government can address the refugee crisis.

  For more information contact: Stephanie Niedringhaus , NETWORK Communications Coordinator

202-347-9797 x 224 / sniedringhaus@networklobby.org

www.networklobby.org

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