An Italian Air Force cargo plane with drug supplies donated by the Community of Sant’Egidio landed today at the airport of Baghdad, Iraq, where a delegation of Sant'Egidio had recently arrived in an official visit. In the next days, tents, electrical generators and water tanks made available by Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation will be shipped to the country, too. Such aid will reach the displaced and refugees in Fallujah, where a bloody battle took place a few months ago.

The delivery of humanitarian aid could be pursued in the framework of the agreement the Supreme Commission for Iraq Reconciliation and the Community of Sant’Egidio had signed in Rome on June 21. In addition to bringing relief to the people of Fallujah, who suffered during the Daesh occupation ì and in the battle for the liberation of the city, such aid represents an important step to rebuild peace and promote coexistence between the various ethnic, social and religious components of the Iraqi population.

During the visit to Iraq, the Sant’Egidio delegation met the President of the Republic, Fuad Masum, and the Speaker of Parliament, Salim al-Jabouri. During the talks, it was stressed the positive role religions can play to foster peace, by helping the various components of a country feel protected by the State and pushing all to contribute to the reconciliation process.