Religious leaders in Egypt organize donations to Iraqi children

The Sheikh of Al-Azhar, Mohammed Sayed Tantawi, together with Pope Shenouda, the Patriarch of the Coptic church, approved of sponsoring medical and food aid for Iraqi children.

The Egyptian public committee for saving the Iraqi children will assume the mission of outlining the attributes and needs of the donation, which will be send to Iraq in May.

They also directed a call to Muslim and Christian businessmen to contribute to meeting the donation's cost.

Meanwhile, the Iraqi weekly newspaper El-Zawraa published yesterday a comment including criticism of Iraq's trade minister for continuing to distribute legumes in periodical supplies, demanding that meat and chicken replace the legumes.

At the same time, Iraqi official statements indicate that food distributed by the trade ministry cover 70% of the required daily caloric intake needed by an individual.