The United States Agency for International Development is set to dole out millions to Christian and Yazidi communities in Iraq, amid the urging from Vice President Mike Pence, a new report says.
According to USAID administrator Mark Green, $10 million will be given to multiple groups, including one overseen by Catholic Relief Services, and another $25 million will go toward assisting “persecuted communities” in Iraq, mostly comprised of Christians and Yazidis.
As a result, the U.S. will provide more than $100 million in this fiscal year to the two religious minorities, the Washington Post reports.
“I want to make a promise to each and every one of you,” Pence said at the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting Wednesday. “We will not rest until we give our fellow Christians and persecuted communities across the Middle East the resources and support they need to recover, rebuild, and flourish in their ancient homeland once again.”
Pence announced in October that President Trump had ordered the State Department to stop funding “ineffective” United Nations relief efforts to combat the persecution of Christians in the Middle East and that instead, the U.S. would support Christians through USAID and faith-based groups.
It’s uncertain which groups will receive less or no funding as a result of the U.S. directing funds to religious minorities.
