🚀 go-pugleaf

* URGENT APPEAL: With Your Help, Bosnia's Orphans Do Not Have To Die!

CHILDREN FACE MASSACRE -- or certain death from starvation and exposure 
-- as Serb forces close in on Bosnia's remaining free strongholds in 
Bihac and Tuzla.  You can help save these children abandoned by the 
"civilized" world, including NATO, the UN, Britain, France, Germany and 
even the US.  (See TIME Magazine, December 12, Page 33, for the gruesome 
details!)

BECOME PART OF A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE and give your support to Citihope 
International's mission to rescue Bosnia's most at-risk children of the 
war.  The Serb armies are closing in and thousands of homeless children 
are crying out for a safe-haven.

Please help Citihope to save these children by bringing them into a 
"manger" of safety where they can be cared for and protected.  Every $75 
given will rescue the life of one child and bring him or her to 
emergency foster care in a safe haven.  The Mission will begin within 72 
hours if concerned people help us with the urgently needed financial 
support.

Citihope International is a recognized, 501-C3 not-for-profit  
humanitarian relief agency with extensive experience in Eastern Europe.  
Citihope is partnering with the Solomon Children's Foundation of 
Croatia.  We are the only private voluntary organization poised and 
ready to accomplish this Mission.  Full details of the Mission appear at 
the end of this e-mail.

EXPERIENCED RELIEF WORKERS ARE WILLING TO RISK THEIR LIVES on this 
Mission of mercy.  They will cross the front lines and transport the 
children out as refugees.  The children will be brought to safe 
territory, nurtured and medically cared for.  Then, in concert with 
other international relief organizations and with the assistance of the 
UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the children will be given longer-
term foster care.

THE ONLY REAL HOPE FOR THESE CHILDREN is to get them out of danger, now.  
Please help rescue some before it's too late.  This could be the most 
significant gift you give this Christmas -- the gift of life to a 
fatherless or motherless child.  What the UN has not done, this Mission 
will do: bring the children out of the most at-risk war zones and into 
safe keeping.

Our on-the-ground staff in Croatia estimates the cost of rescuing each 
child from the war zones and bringing them to safekeeping is just $75.  
There are hundreds of children in the MOST precarious situations -- 
including many hiding out in bombed-out buildings.

THIS IS AN UNUSUAL COMMUNICATION FOR THE INTERNET, BUT THE NEED IS 
URGENT -- QUITE LITERALLY A MATTER OF LIFE OR DEATH. This may be the 
last chance for these Bosnian children.  Your action _today_ can help 
save a child's life!  Please make a difference.

HERE'S HOW YOU CAN HELP SAVE A CHILD'S LIFE

1.  Send a gift -- whatever you can -- to help rescue
    Bosnia's war orphans.  Remember, $75 will cover the cost
    for each child you would like to rescue from the War Zone.
    If you can't give $75, please give the best gift you can
    immediately.

    You can use your Visa or MasterCard to make a contribution
    over the Internet.  Include the card number, date of
    expiration, name and address via Internet e-mail to
    "Citihope" in care of nous@panix.com; or, fax (914) 676-3332
    or call (914) 676-4400.

    For contributions by check, mail to:

         Citihope/Bosnia Children's Rescue
         P.O. Box 38
         Andes, NY  13731

    If using FEDEX/UPS OVERNITE, send to:

         Citihope/Bosnia Children's Rescue
         25 Main Street
         Andes, NY  13731

    Be sure to include your name, mailing and Internet address.  You
    will receive a tax-deductible receipt from Citihope.

2.  Please forward this appeal to at least _two_ Internet
    users who you believe would want to help, and cross-post it to
    newsgroups you feel would respond seriously to it.

UPDATE REPORTS ON THIS MISSION WILL BE UPLOADED AS "BOSNIA CHILD RESCUE" 
documents to major FTP sites, including wuarchive.wustl.edu, 
archive.umich.edu, sumex-aim.stanford.edu, and their respective mirrors.

Additional financial gifts and gift-in-kind contributions of food and 
medical supplies from corporations will help cover the cost of extended 
foster care.

Citihope International is a US-based, registered 501C-3 not-for-profit 
charitable organization whose audited annual report is on file with the 
New York State Attorney General and available upon request.  Citihope is 
the private, voluntary organization that has helped provide medical aid 
to tens of thousands of children and families who were affected by the 
Chernobyl disaster.  Over the last four years, Citihope has delivered 
$100 million in desperately needed food and medical supplies to Eastern 
Europe.

Gifts to Citihope International are fully tax-deductible.

For further information on Citihope, fax (914) 676-3332, or send 
Internet e-mail to Citihope in care of nous@panix.com.  (Please insert 
the phrase "Citihope/Bosnia" in the title of your email.)

More follows....

CITIHOPE INTERNATIONAL: BACKGROUND ON BOSNIA CHILDREN RESCUE MISSION
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Bosnia Children Rescue in Partnership with
The Solomon Children's Foundation -- Help Needed from Concerned 
Individuals, Corporations, Organizations and Churches

December 5, 1994: Zagreb, Croatia.

This mission concerns the long term care and placement of children 
orphaned, or otherwise abandoned, as a result of the Armed conflict in 
the Republic of BiH.

BACKGROUND
-------------------------------
Citihope International's affiliate, Solomon Children's Foundation (SCF), 
has a long and successful involvement of extending assistance to 
endangered children in Bosnia.  In August 1992, SCF was the first Non-
Governmental Agency (NGO) to independently deliver medical supplies to 
the Children's ward of the main Hospital in Sarajevo, by an overland 
route.  This involved crossing the main front lines of the opposing 
forces and the dangerous no-man's land, between the Serb forces and the 
Bosnians defending Sarajevo.

The delivery of supplies was warmly received, as the anesthetics that 
were delivered enabled Doctors to operate on Children who had received 
wounds, while the children were anesthetized.  Prior to our arrival, 
some children had to have been operated on without anesthetic.  While in 
Sarajevo, the SCF group came under direct fire on several occasions, and 
their accommodation was destroyed by rocket fire.

The SCF representatives were able to meet with the Mayor of Sarajevo and 
the Minister of Social Welfare.  At that times discussions were held 
concerning SCF offering care for Bosnian children, the offer was 
gratefully received and formed the basis for later contacts.

The account of this successful first trip was widely reported and this 
encouraged several other Relief Agencies to begin the dangerous 
independent overland delivery of Aid.

THE MISSION
-------------------------------
SCF has kept in contact with the BiH Ministry of Social Welfare and in 
recent months our contact has resulted in an invitation to receive a 
group of Bosnian children for Fostercare and eventual long-term 
placement.  The present state of affairs in the War Zones has 
dramatically intensified the need.

The children are presently in Bosnia, and we would have to collect them 
from the Bihac and Tuzla area.  These areas are precariously under the 
control of the BiH army.  However, the Tuzla region is surrounded by 
Serbian and Croat positions and Bihac is under intense attack by Serbian 
forces.

The need now is to act quickly before the situation deteriorates 
further.  Our present window of opportunity could be open only for days 
rather than weeks.  AS THIS PROPOSAL IS BEING TYPED WE CAN HEAR THE 
SHELLING AND SMALL ARMS FIRE.

We are able to place a rescue team in Bosnia within 72 hours and as such 
are only waiting for confirmation of available funding for the project.  
We understand the risks but our relief workers are willing to go in and 
accomplish this Mission.

The Croatian Movement for Christian Democracy, which is an 
interdenominational group seeking to represent Christian standards and 
ethical values in politics and public life in Croatia, has publicly 
endorsed our proposals and has written to the Bosnian Government 
encouraging them to work with us.  The CMCD is run on a day-by-day basis 
by a leading Croatian Attorney, and he has written us a legal brief 
explaining that according to the existing legal system in Bosnia, and 
Croatia, our proposals are in the best interests of the children 
concerned and are also completely in accord with the relevant laws.

Solomon Children's Foundation is registered as an approved Child Welfare 
Agency in Croatia.

THE CRITICAL NEED: RESCUE THE MOST AT-RISK CHILDREN, IMMEDIATELY
----------------------------------------------------------------
It is vitally important that we respond to the Bosnians' request quickly 
as every lost day brings with it greater danger and risk.  As of this 
time, we have the ability to collect the most at-risk children and bring 
them to safety.  We just need to assure the Bosnian authorities that 
adequate funds are in trust to rescue, transport and provide care for 
the children..

The immediate funding required would be for leased vehicles and 
transportation costs, for staff members on the mission, including 
placing a representative in Sarajevo to ensure continued Bosnian 
Government co-operation.  Medical and Fostercare provision for the 
children would be supplemented by individual gifts and special grants 
until permanency proposals could be finalized for the children involved.

We have received invitations to apply for funding in part from the UN 
High Commissioner for Refugees and Mercy International.  We have also 
secured a small grant from another US-based charitable organization.  
However, to ensure the viability of the Mission for the minimum of eight 
months that it will need to run, we need to secure at least another 
$50,000.00 immediately.

The funds are needed to be able to begin the evacuation of the children 
and secure their Fostercare in Croatia.  We would therefore need to 
transport the children through territory held by the Serbian forces or 
the HVO, and then into Croatia proper.

The Serbs and Croats normally allow the transit of refugees who are en-
route to another country, or who are being supported by foreign 
sponsors.  We recognize there is always risk to life and limb when 
implementing a humanitarian rescue in a war zone: our staff are fully 
committed to accomplishing the task.

The Bosnians have sent SCF a fax in the last few days requesting that we 
advise them of whether we are able to receive children quickly.  This is 
in response to the escalation of hostilities in Bosnia.

At this time we can contract with the Government of the BiH to supply 
Fostercare and permanent placement on the basis of our present 
negotiations.

The next step is to send our representative to Sarajevo to secure the 
provisions of the contract between ourselves and the Bosnians.  
Immediately and concurrent to that we must begin the process of 
assessment of the children in the Bosnian camps, and then to arrange 
their immediate evacuation.

To conduct the assessment and evacuation, we must send a vehicle with 
two members of suitably trained and experienced staff, to the Tuzla 
area.  UnProFo, will allow the vehicle and team to be escorted in by 
British members of UnProFo.  If UN forces are withdrawn from Bosnia, we 
will have to join a BiH convoy.

The Solomon Children's Foundation of Croatia is a registered Not-For-
Profit organization.  It is a member of the International Fostercare 
Organization.  Its Patrons include the Rev. Istvan Tokes of Transylvania 
and its Senior Project Consultant is Prof. Bert Galaway of the School of 
Social Work in the University of Manitoba.  It is possibly the leading 
Eastern European agency for the implementation of foster care for 
children in need.

Solomon Children's Foundation is partnering with Citihope International, 
the recognized humanitarian relief organization which has brought more 
food and medical supplies to the former republics of the Soviet Union 
than any other private voluntary organization.  References and audited 
annual report are available.

HERE'S HOW YOU CAN HELP SAVE A CHILD'S LIFE

1.  Send a gift -- whatever you can -- to help rescue
    Bosnia's war orphans.  Remember, $75 will cover the cost
    for each child you would like to rescue from the War Zone.
    If you can't give $75, please give the best gift you can
    immediately.

    You can use your Visa or MasterCard to make a contribution
    over the Internet.  Include the card number, date of
    expiration, name and address via Internet e-mail to
    "Citihope" in care of nous@panix.com; or, fax (914) 676-3332
    or call (914) 676-4400.

    For contributions by check, mail to:

         Citihope/Bosnia Children's Rescue
         P.O. Box 38
         Andes, NY  13731

    If using FEDEX/UPS OVERNITE, send to:

         Citihope/Bosnia Children's Rescue
         25 Main Street
         Andes, NY  13731

    Be sure to include your name, mailing and Internet address.  You
    will receive a tax-deductible receipt from Citihope.

2.  Please forward this appeal to at least _two_ Internet
    users who you believe would want to help, and cross-post it to
    newsgroups you feel would respond seriously to it.

UPDATE REPORTS ON THIS MISSION WILL BE UPLOADED AS "BOSNIA CHILD RESCUE" 
documents to major FTP sites, including wuarchive.wustl.edu, 
archive.umich.edu, sumex-aim.stanford.edu, and their respective mirrors.

Additional financial gifts and gift-in-kind contributions of food and 
medical supplies from corporations will help cover the cost of extended 
foster care.

Gifts to Citihope International are fully tax-deductible.

For further information on Citihope, fax (914) 676-3332, or send 
Internet e-mail to Citihope in care of nous@panix.com.  (Please insert 
the phrase "Citihope/Bosnia" in the title of your email.)